GREENFIELD TOWSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
PREPARED BY THE GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
2002 GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP RESOLUTION NO. 2002- 14
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Greenfield Township have the power to adopt and amend the Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan as a whole or in parts; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Greenfield Township desire to adopt the June 2002 version of the proposed Comprehensive Plan for Greenfield Township as a whole; and II WHEREAS, pursuant to 53 P.S. $ 10302: A. The Greenfield Township Planning Commission has held at least one public meeting I pursuant to public notice before forwarding the proposed June 2002 version of the Comprehensive Plan to the Board of Supervisors of Greenfield Township; and
I B. In reviewing the proposed June 2002 version of the Comprehensive Plan, the Board of Supervisors have considered the review comments ofthe County Planning Agency, the contiguous municipalities and the school district, as well as the public meeting comments and the I recommendations of the Greenfield Township Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Greenfield Township have held two public hearings I pursuant to public notice concerning the proposed June 2002 version of the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, there have not been any substantial revisions to the proposed June 2002 version of the Comprehensive Plan following the public hearings.
NOW, THEREFORE, this wdayof ~C&~QQX,2002, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Greenfield, in the County of Erie and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as follows:
1. Greenfield Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania does hereby adopt the proposed June 2002 version of the Comprehensive Plan as a whole as the Comprehensive Plan for Greenfield Township.
2. Pursuant to 53 P.S. 9 10302(c), this resolution hereby refers expressly to the maps, charts, textual matter and other matters intended to form the whole of the Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan as follows: TEXTUAL MATTER INTENDED TO FORM A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Chapter Pages
Table of Contents i-ii, inclusive Introduction iii-iv, inclusive Chapter 1 Goals and Objectives 1-5, inclusive Chapter 2 Housing Plan 6-8, inclusive Chapter 3 Community Facilities 9- 10, inclusive Chapter 4 Transportation Plan 1 1- 14, inclusive Chapter 5 Land Use Plan 15-22, inclusive Chapter 6 Implementation 23-26, inclusive
CHARTS, REPORTS AND OTHER MATTER INTENDED TO FORM A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN I ApDendix I A. Conservation Subdivision Guidelines, inclusive B. Historic Preservation Plan, inclusive C. Agricultural Preservation Plan Report, inclusive I D. Natural Resources Plan Report, inclusive E. PENNVEST Land Use Policy Initiatives, inclusive F. PennDOT Sound Land Use Strategy, inclusive I G. PADEP Policy for Consideration of Comprehensive Plans and Zoning Ordinances, inclusive H. PADCED Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, I Growing Smarter Toolkit: Catalog of Financial and Technical Resources, inclusive I I. Center for Rural PA: Rural Access Guide, inclusive !I I I I
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I MAPS AND CHARTS INTENDED TO FORM A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN I List of Maps I MaD Chapter Pages Regional Location Map Intro. V Functional Highway Classification System 4 11A I Long Range Transportation Improvements Plan 4 14A Concept Development Layout 5 17A Initial District Designation 5 17B I Agricultural Designation 5 18A PublicAnstitutional Considerations 5 18B Conservation Considerations 5 18C I Topographic Considerations 5 18D Long Range Use Plan 5 20A I LERTA Program 6 26A 3. Provided, however, the following documents and other matters were used as reference I documents in the preparation of the June 2002 version of the Comprehensive Plan and are not adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan: I Greenfield Township Background Analysis - Prepared by Erie County Department of Planning with the Assistance of Greenfield Township Officials. I Dated 2001 88 pages Greenfield Township Demographic Report and Population Projections - Prepared by Graney, Grossman, Ray and Associates, assisted by the Erie County Department of I Planning. Dated November 200 1 28 pages
I 4. This resolution shall be recorded on the adopted Comprehensive Plan.
5. Pursuant to 53 P.S. 5 10306(b), within thirty (30) days after this adoption of the I Comprehensive Plan for Greenfield Township, a certified copy of the adopted Comprehensive Plan I shall be filed with the Erie County Planning Agency. 1 I
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1 DULY RESOLVED this 14 May of Od-ok~X,2002, by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Greenfield, County of Erie and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I WitnesdAttest: GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP: I wcoz, Supervisor I
-. - I Ronald Orlowski, Supervisor BY QW+? P-U I dayton Eastman, Supervisor I 1 I 1 I I I I 1 I
I 4 I 1 I GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN I Chapter PaRe
I ... TABLE OF CONTENTS...... 1-11
I .... INTRODUCTION...... Ill-1v I CHAPTER 1 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES...... 1-5 I CHAPTER 2 HOUSING PLAN ...... 6-8 I CHAPTER 3 COMMUNITY FACILITIES PL AN...... 9-10 I CHAPTER 4 TRANSPORTATION PLAN ...... 11-14 I CHAPTER 5 LAND USE PLAN ...... 15-22 I CHAPTER 6 IMPLEMENTATION...... 23-26 I APPENDIX......
I A Conservation Subdivision Design Guidelines B Historic Preservation Plan Report C Agricultural Preservation Plan Report ID D Natural Resources Plan Report E PENNVEST Land Use Policy Initiatives F PennDOT Sound Land Use Strategy G PADEP Policy for Consideration of Comp. Plans and Zoning Ordinances H PADCED Governor's Center for Local Government Services, Growing Smarter Toolkit: Catalog of Financial and Technical Resources I Center for Rural PA: Rural Access Guide
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I LIST OF MAPS I Chapter
I Regional Location Map Ink0 . v. I Functional Highway Classification System 4 11A Long Range Transportation Improvements Plan 4 14A I Concept Development Layout 5 17A I Initial District Designations 5 17B Agricultural Considerations 5 18A
I Publidhstitutional Considerations 5 18B I Conservation Considerations 5 18C Topographic Considerations 5 18D 20A I Long Range Land Use Plan 5 26A E LERTA Program 6 I I I I I I I .. 11 I I INTRODUCTION
I The Pennsylvania iMunicipalities Planning Code is the state legislation that enables municipalities to conduct comprehensive planning efforts at the local level, and provides the I guidelines as to the content, completion and adoption of the local comprehensive plans. Local comprehensive planning is not new to Greenfield Township. This planning effort represents the second time in 20 years that Greenfield Township will develop a background analysis of the I study area, formalize the community development goals and objectives, and finalize the plan elements. I This Comprehensive Plan will assist the elected officials in developing a policy to guide decisions in regard to the physical development of the community. It is important to understand that the Comprehensive Plan, and its various elements, is not a legally binding document, and it I does not take the form of an ordinance. When a community decides to adopt a comprehensive plan, it is accepting by resolution that the recommendations within the plan are the guidelines for fiture development and related government actions of municipal officials. The various elements I of this Plan should be reviewed on a periodic basis in the future, and revised when unforeseen conditions occur which reflect on the social, economic and physical makeup of Greenfield Township and its immediate adjacent area. At the very least, the Pennsylvania Municipalities I Planning Code requires the plan to be reviewed every ten years. The goals and objectives of the Plan and the policies, upon which the Plan is based, should be regarded as a more permanent part of the document. It is intended that the goals and objectives of the plan represent the official 1 philosophy of the governing body of the municipality and its planning commission.
The elected and appointed officials of Greenfield Township are inescapably involved in 1 questions of physical development. At nearly every meeting of the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission, development decisions must be made concerning zoning, subdivisions, utilities, facilities and so on. Public officials must plan for future demands on community I services and fiscal outlays by which improvements to these services can be made. These officials need an instrument by which to inventory the community's resources and liabilities, and establish short and long range policies for the physical development of the community in a I coordinated, unified manner that can be continually referred to in order to intelligently make these decisions. Such is the intent behind the Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan.
I Probably the most difficult goal facing any community is the development of a means for promoting and controlling orderly growth. This Plan is an integral part of the municipal effort I toward reaching that goal. Although other studies, together with ordinances and regulations, are or may become important to achieving the desired goals, the Greenfield Township I Comprehensive Plan should be the basis upon which those other documents are founded. In an effort to assist municipalities with a means of promoting and controlling orderly growth, the PEWEST Board adopted new Land Use Policy Initiatives in late 2000. PEWEST (the I statewide public infrastructure lending institution) has already implemented to incorporate land use issues into its actions by: 1 ... I 111 1. Tying funding eligibility to land use plans; I 2. Ensure coordination with other agencies during project planning and development; 3. Coordinate PENNVEST funding with DCED’s Keystone Opportunity Zone and Industrial I Sites Reuse programs; 4. Emphasize Growing Greener and Smart Growth considerations at the project planning stage; and I 5. Farmland preservation efforts. These compatibility requirements for PENNVEST funding only strengthen the argument for a I thoroughly updated Comprehensive Plan. Of note, PennDOT and the PADEP also developed similar planningAand use controls compatibility requirements in late 200 1. A complete outline of these state agencies’ policy coordination with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code I and with local municipal planning efforts can be found in Appendix E, F and G of this document. Also, various funding programs of the PADCED and the Center for Rural PA can be found in I Appendix H and I of this document. I I I I I
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I CHAPTER 1 I GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Introduction I The Comprehensive Plan is comprised of a series of recommendations which, if implemented, can assist in promoting and guiding future growth. This Plan can be an effective tool for I assisting the local municipal officials in making intelligent community planning decisions. The Comprehensive Plan discusses the recommendations for developing residential, commercial, industrial and public service areas by delineating proposed land use patterns. The Plan also I makes recommendations concerning community and utility facilities and services, and illustrates methods for improving the overall highway system.
I The Zoning Ordinance and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance are fundamental tools used to implement the land use and other portions of the Comprehensive Plan. The zoning and subdivision requirements and districts in the ordinances must closely relate to the I community's future needs, trends and resources, its physiographic characteristics, its roads and utility systems, and other factors identified in the Plan. These documents are the legal vehicle I that provides the transition between the Plan and the reality of community development. Overall Plan Goal
I The overall objective of the Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan is to develop and preserve a pleasant, attractive, healthy, safe and efficient community. This plan is intended to promote, protect and facilitate public health, safety, morale and the general welfare of the I community. The plan concentrates on coordinated and practical community development through proper density of population and structures and avoidance of residential sprawl. In addition, provisions will be made for adequate light, air, and the public infrastructure of I transportation, water and sewage. In order to avoid and/or minimize the loss of health, life or property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers, the plan will include proper police and fire protection and related code enforcement programs. Finally, the plan will promote the I development of schools, public grounds and other public facilities to serve the residents of the I community. Goals and Objectives 1 Citizen Participation The goal of public involvement is to encourage continuous discussion among residents, business owners and Township Officials concerning the development of the community and encourage I their participation in public affairs. I
1 1 I I m The public involvement specific objectives are to: have all business meetings of the Planning Commission, Supervisors, and other public bodies in the community open to the public; 1 stimulate the interest of residents and business owners in local public affairs and encourage their attendance at meetings of local public bodies; and I encourage increased participation by residents and business owners at public meetings.
En virottmeiztal I The environmental general goal is to preserve and enhance the natural and cultural resources in the community. m The environmental specific objectives are to: protect unique geologic, vegetative and other ecological areas to ensure variety in the I environment, to serve as outdoor education resources, to guard against damage to life and property, and to preserve the natural amenities; , protect the groundwater resources in those areas that are dependent upon on-lot wells for potable water by such methods as restricting the types and densities of development in recharge areas; discourage encroachment upon streams and their flood plains and wetlands, ponds, and high water table areas that threaten to degrade the natural condition of their waters and/or banks; and 0 create an Environmental Advisory Committee per the EAC Handbook distributed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
Energy Conservatiort The energy conservation general, goal is to promote energy conservation as a matter of serious public concern.
The energy conservation specific objectives are to: 0 exercise public responsibility in providing direction to energy conservation efforts in the community; promote efficient land use patterns that lead to efficient energy utilization; adopt land use and development controls, building codes and similar regulations that promote energy efficiencies and revise or eliminate those regulations that cause or encourage wasteful energy consumption; 0 utilize alternative energy sources in all new governmental and institutional buildings when feasible; encourage the use of alternative energy sources in all other public, residential, commercial, and industrial structures in the community; and 0 encourage all residents to adopt an energy conservation attitude.
2 A estli etic The aesthetic goal is to enrich the lives of all residents in the community by seeking to improve the aesthetic quality and visual impact of the man-made environment and by preserving and I enhancing the natural environment. The aesthetic specific objectives are to: 0 prevent the infringement on scenic elements such as dense woodlands, water bodies, and steep slopes and hilltops by relating all development to natural features; encourage the elimination, isolation, or screening of significant visual distractions created by people; encourage the use of landscaping and conservation practices to enhance the visual quality of the man-made environment; 0 encourage placing utilities underground when practical and encourage attractive design or blending with the natural environment when underground placement is not practical; 0 encourage the protection of scenic views and vistas; and 0 control the use of signs in terms of number, type, size and location, and encourage aesthetics and attractiveness in their design.
Economic The economic general goal is to establish a diversified and enduring business structure in the community which provides residents with a variety of employment opportunities while at the same time preserving a healthful, secure, and pleasant residential environment.
The economic specific objectives are to: provide for future commercial and industrial development by reserving adequate land areas through various methods such as zoning, planned unit development, office and industrial park development; provide for the concentration of commercial and industrial developments within selected areas by designating these areas in the land use plan and supporting these areas through land use regulations; encourage the necessary infrastructure that attracts business and industrial development, such as utilities, streets and tax reduction programs; reserve the economic development potential of the 1-86 interchange by retaining these areas for businesses and industries; discourage the intrusion of residential uses into existing and proposed commercialhdustrial areas; and establish and perpetuate a public and private sector relationship conducive to local economic development.
3 Housing
The housing general goal is to provide adequate housing for the current and future residents of the community.
The housing specific objectives are to: increase the supply of decent, safe and sanitary housing in price ranges affordable to a wide spectrum of residents; provide for diversity in housing types and residential areas so that every family has a choice with respect to residential environment and life-style; preserve the existing sound housing stock through public and private actions and incentives that encourage housing upkeep; eliminate all dilapidated housing units by removing those units beyond salvage and by rehabilitating those deteriorating housing units that can be feasibly restored to sound condition; and preserve the residential character and quality of viable residential areas.
Trarisportatioir The transportation general goal is to provide for the safe and convenient circulation and movement of goods and people within the community.
The transportation specific objectives are to: 0 provide for the separation of local and thru traffic in order to facilitate movement both within the community and between the neighboring municipalities; 0 coordinate and integrate the transportation systems of the community with those of the region and the State; 0 provide for adequate off-street parking in all types of future developments; and 0 provide adequate streets and highway systems in all future residential, commercial and industrial subdivisions.
Conrrn unity Facilities and Utilities The general goal for facilities, services, and utilities in the community is to provide the quantity and quality necessary to meet the physical, social, cultural, recreational, and aesthetic needs of the community and to do so in a timely and fiscally responsible manner.
The community facilities and utilities specific objectives are to: 0 assist appropriate agencies in providing adequate police and fire protection; 0 provide adequate water, sewage, stormwater, and recycling services in all areas where existing or planned development or population densities warrants such services; 0 assist the school district in providing adequate public school facilities, including buildings and grounds that can serve as multi-use facilities; and 0 provide a community recreation program and facilities based on the needs and desires of the local residents.
4 Land Use
The land use general goal is to provide and perpetuate a land use pattern in the community which includes a wide variety of interrelated land uses in proper proportion. These land uses must be able to function efficiently, and feature an optimum degree of compatibility between land uses, development and the natural environment.
The land use specific objectives are to: encourage the concentration of land uses in discernible clusters and limit both strip development and irregularly dispersed development patterns; discourage the indiscriminate spread of commercial and industrial uses, particularly the encroachment of these uses upon existing or future residential areas; discourage the adverse sprawl of higher and medium density residential development; encourage the development of an identity for Greenfield Township in the form of a village setting; promote innovative development concepts such as those described in the Growing Greener program, which encourage variety in neighborhood and architectural desip; and employ appropriate land use controls to guide future uses and densities of development in accordance with the accompanying plan elements.
5 CHAPTER 2
HOUSING PLAN
Introduction
Housing plays a major role in all our lives. For most households, it is the single largest investment. Its quality and location affect the security, happiness and stability of families and have serious implications for the economic and social well being of our communities. When families buy housing, they purchase or rent more than the dwelling unit and its characteristics. They are concerned with such factors as health, security, privacy, status, neighborhood and social relations, community facilities and services, access to jobs, and the physical environment.
Beyond its vital role as shelter, housing is also a yardstick by which outsiders measure an area. The availability of safe, sound and attractive housing is a significant community resource. If a community has an adequate supply of sound housing and the potential to expand its housing stock according to future needs, it is usually considered as a desirable place to live and raise a family. However, if the present housing stock is physically and functionally substandard with minimal opportunity for rehabilitation or the construction of new housing units, then a community, or a neighborhood within a particular community, may be considered as an undesirable living area or environment.
Finally, housing is important in a much more practical way. For county and municipal govemments, the housing stock comprises a high percentage of the tax base. These various roles demonstrate the importance of housing.
The following recommendations for the community will help to achieve the Goals and Objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
General Recommendations
There are numerous reasons why a municipal government should be concerned whether the local supply of affordable housing is adequate for those who live or work in the municipality now, and adequate for new residents and workers of the future. There are legal reasons that require local officials to address affordable housing in the planning and administration of community change. There are convincing economic reasons for many communities to encourage investment in affordable housing. Also, there are compelling social obligations that community leaders assume when they act on behalf of the whole community’s future.
Of course, a municipal government cannot single-handedly solve its housing affordability problems. Local government is not the only responsible agent nor is it the only agent of change. Furthermore, the tools at a municipal government’s disposal (in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code) are limited and must also be used to protect and provide for many additional public interests. This suggests that, at the very least, an effective affordable housing strategy .should be developed within the framework of the comprehensive planning process and in coordination with other municipalities and with Federal and State agencies. The Erie County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities and the Erie County Department of Planning are local agencies that have a number of housing related programs.
6 Not surprisingly, many of the basic principles that underlie sound planning practices also apply to developing a workable affordable housing strategy. Regardless of the specific problems identified and the goals set, the following basic pointers should serve municipal leaders well as they begin to strategize and make decisions about affordable housing.
Keep a long-term perspective on both the problems and solutions for affordable housing. The problem will not be going away soon, nor will short-term or token solutions prove adequate or lasting.
Periodically review the housing need situation, the conditions of the marketplace, and the effectiveness of municipal approaches. Many factors beyond the control of municipal government contribute to both household income levels and housing prices. Build a periodic review into the long-range strategy.
Balance affordable housing initiatives with other valid public interests. It is possible to preserve the character of a community and its significant natural landscape, and at the same time accommodate the housing needs of all income groups. This requires an integrated, comprehensive approach to planning and zoning.
Provide a flexible orientation to the problem. Encourage new approaches or innovations, rather than a single proscriptive/restrictive approach which may defeat the very intent of incentives for private affordable housing development. There is no one "right" way, but rather many different partial solutions that need a conducive environment in which to operate.
Seek cooperation with nearby municipalities and agencies, if not in the form of intermunicipal planning, at least in coordinating data collection on market conditions. The sooner municipalities can work together and provide more opportunities for affordable housing development, the smaller the individual municipal burden becomes.
Communicate with the public early on and keep them informed of study findings, proposed strategies and progress in program development. It is up to municipal leadership to convey the social responsibility, the legal obligation, and the economic necessities behind the provision of housing for all income groups. The burden falls to local officials to correct misinformation and to educate the public about difficult policy choices.
Finally, acknowledge the unrepresented constituency of present and future residents. There may be people now working in the community but unable to live there, parents or children of current residents who someday may want to live near their family, as well as an unborn generation to be housed in the next 10 to 15 years.
The Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan has integated affordable housing into growth and land use policies, and discourages discriminatory and exclusionary uses of housing resources. The Plan further recommends that amendments to the municipal zoning oidinance, zoning map, subdivision regulations, and housing-related codes which will implement this Plan should provide for reduced regulatory barriers to the development and preservation of affordable housing, and provide viable alternatives to the pervasive reliance on separate single-family houses on individually maintained parcels.
7 1 Demonstration Proiects
1 To the extent that both neighborhood resistance and developer skepticism are obstacles to the development of affordable housing, municipal officials should support local demonstration projects. In this way, the community can demonstrate to the public as well as to private investors I the financial viability, the opportunities for design integration, the natural demand for such housing, and the compatible nature of its occupants.
1 Financial participation could include the donation of publicly owned land or the use of special County or State funding allocations. Regulatory incentives could include: relaxed or more flexible zoning and subdivision standards (e.g., narrower setbacks, cartway widths, and buffers; I revised parking, paving and landscaping requirements; reduced detail on plans and pre- application studies); reduction of various exactions (e.g., impact fees, off-site improvements, mandatory dedications); streamlined review and permitting processes and/or acceptance of cost I effective housing techniques and construction standards. Refer to the Land Use Plan portion of this Comprehensive Plan for recommended locations.
I In exchange for such public participation, the demonstration project partners should assure adequate sale price reductions and long-term affordability guarantees appropriate to the identified income groups to be served by the developments. Depending on the household I income level being targeted, more or less financial subsidy will be needed. Clearly, the intent of such developments should be to maximize the regulatory relief and minimize the direct public 1 funding needed. Also, Greenfield Township has made conservation subdivision design a priority for residential I development. This Growing Greener based concept allows for the reduction of development costs by clustering homes, thereby reducing the amount and distance of expensive infrastructure. With smaller lots and lower development costs these subdivisions can benefit the Township by 1 creating affordable housing while also preserving the rural character of the area. I Land Use Related Housinq Recommendations The full range of basic housing types and densities should be accommodated in the Township. The more compact housing arrangements, which are not single family detached on separate lots 1 of record, are recommended to be located in designated growth and village areas. Refer to the Land Use Plan portion of this Comprehensive Plan for recommended locations. I I I I I I 8 CHAPTER 3
COMhIUNITY FACILITIES PLAN
Introduction
This portion of the Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan concerns the public and semi- public services improvements for the community. These recommendations are designed to supplement the intent of the following Transportation Plan and the Land Use Plan, and in many instances play an integral part in the promotion of specific land use recommendations. When completed, these impror.ements will help to achieve the Goals and Objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
Buildings and Administration
While the current municipal building and staff may be adequate to serve the needs of Greenfield Township today, it is not anticipated that this fact will remain true for long. Greenfield Township is positioned to experience residential and commercial growth. This growth will result I in an increased demand on the current staff as well as the suitability of the municipal building.
With an increase in population requiring services and information, it is recognized that the
I current staff may not have the capabilities to handle the increased demands placed upon them. It I is recommended that staff size and responsibilities should be evaluated on an annual basis.
I To meet the goal of increased and continual public participation, it is recommended that Greenfield Township consider an addition to their current municipal building for a large meeting hall and additional office space, or consider acquiring the old elementary school complex on I State Route 430. I Water and Sewer Facilities The Greenfield Township Supervisors and Planning Commission do not foresee the need to I create and maintain a public water or sewer system withn the next 10 to 15 years. When commercial, industrial or higher density residential developments are created in the future, it is recommended that the water, sewer and stormwater management facilities for these group I developments be constructed and maintained by the developer. However, it has been recognized that a time may come Lvhen the Township will have to undertake a PADEP Act 537 Sewage I Facilities Plan. It is also recommended that the Township take a special interest in preserving the water source of a potential municipal water supply, and one of the existing water sources of the neighboring I North East Area: the Eaton Reservoir in the northeast quadrant of Greenfield Township.
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It is recommended that the Township, to the best extent possible, preserve the integrity of the I water source. Commercial farming is one such use that may have an impact on water supply sources. Lawful activities such as the extraction of minerals impact water supply sources and such activities are governed by state statutes regulating mineral extraction that specify the I replacement and restoration of water supplies affected by such activities. It is the intent of the Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan to be generally consistent with the State Water Plan I and any applicable water resources plan adopted by a River Basin Commission. I Recreational Facilities The Township has recently purchased a 14.823 acre parcel of property located at 10430 Station Road (State Route 430) for the Greenfield Township Community Park. It is anticipated that I while this is the only municipal park in the Township, it will be sufficient to meet the needs of the residents for some time.
I However, it is recommended that those developments which apply the Conservation Residential concepts connect the open space portions of their development to form greenways throughout the Township for the residents to use as walking paths, cross county ski trails or for similar passive I non-motorized recreational use.
A description of all recreational facilities in Greenfield Township is located in the 2001 I Greenfield Township Background Analysis. I Solid Waste Management Greenfield has made previous inquiries in contracting with one service provider for Solid Waste disposal. As a result, the Township has been informed that it is not cost beneficial to contract I with a single service provider, because of the lack of residential density. As the Township continues to grow and densities increase, the Greenfield Township Supervisors should once again look into the benefits of a single company handling the waste disposal needs of the I Township. I Curbside Recycling Program Since May of 1999, Greenfield Township has provided curbside recycling pickup on a biweekly basis. Plastics #1 and #2, clear glass, aluminum and bimetal cans, and newsprint are collected. I There is not a separate fee for this service. Greenfield Township also holds an annual “Spring Clean Up” event on the last Saturday of April and the first Saturday of May. Residents are encouraged to participate in the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Day, by picking up litter along I roadsides. Large items such as furniture, appliances and scrap metal are collected at the Municipal Building and transported to recycling centers of the landfill. It is recommended that 1 the Township continue to work with the County Recycling Coordinator in achieving the State recycling rate goals into the future. 1 I 10 1 I I CHAPTER 4 TRANSPORTATION PLAY I Introduction Road construction in Erie County had its beginnings in 1753 with the road built by the French, I connecting forts at Presque Isle and Le Boeuf. It was 34 years, however, before another road was surveyed in the county. Pennsylvania Population Company agent Judah Colt opened a road in 1797 from the mouth of Sixteenmile Creek (present day Freeport in North East Township) to I his agency station (present day Colt Station) in Greenfield Township. It was extended the next year to the forks of French Creek (present day Wattsburg). In 1800 a road from North East to Wattsburg was opened paralleling, but running east of, the one from Freeport (Reed 1925:328; I Spenser 1962: 133).
Private companies constructed several toll roads. One of the earliest, the Erie and Waterford I Turnpike Company with Judah Colt as treasurer, built the Erie and Waterford Turnpike (US Route 19) in 1805.
I This portion of the Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan concerns the transportation improvements for the community. These recommendations are designed to supplement the intent of the following Land Use Plan and in many instances play an integral part in the I promotion of specific land use recommendations. When completed, these improvements will help to achieve the Goals and Objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
I The specific descriptions of the transportation-related problems and potential are discussed in the Transportation Analysis section of the companion document, the 200 1 Greenfield Township I Background Analysis. In general, these problems include sight distance and drainage concerns. The various transportation recommendations are delineated both generally and specifically on the accompanying Long Range HighLvay System Plan Map. The following narrative describes I and explains the mapped transportation improvements, which are made to correct basic problems, to upgrade the street system as the opportunities present themselves, and/or to implement when the necessity requires it. A functionally and visually improved local 1 transportation highway system will accommodate increases in traffic as growth and diversification occur within the various sectors of the community specifically, and in general, I because of the newly designated Interstate 86. I Official Highwav Svstem It is recommended that the Pennsylvania Highway Functional Classification System, which was adopted officially by the State in late 1994, be recognized and utilized as a basis for its future 1 plan. See the accompanying Functional Highway Classification System iMap for reference. I
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I State Hiphwav System Improvements
E There are upcoming circumstances and projects that will directly affect the highway system in Greenfield Township behveen now and the long range future. In addition to the general land use I changes with the expected traffic increases, a number of specific highway system projects will alter traffic patterns. Of note, no buildings are required to be razed for the new connections. These highway system improvement recommendations are as follows. See the accompanying I Long Range Transportation Improvements Map. I The PennDOT 12 Year/TIP Programs and/or The Erie County Transportation PladTrails and I Greenways Planning Study have the following transportation improvements listed for Greenfield Township:
I 0 Corridor Lmprovements to State Route 89 0 Corridor Improvements to State Route 430 0 Proposed Bicycle Facilities for State Routes 89 and 430 I 0 Replacement of Old Route 89 Bridge 0 Replacement of Wilson Road Bridge I 0 Replacement of Ashton Road Bridge State Highwav Svstem Siaalization and Channelization Improvements
I Just as important as improving the overall highway system with better aligned roads and new connections, improving the traffic flow within the highway system is significant as well. Long range general signalization and channelization recommendations correspond to a hierarchy of I highway classifications at intersections: the higher classification is the thru traffic road; when equal classifications intersect, then the higher traffic volume is the thru traffic road; any I classification with a major commerciaVinstitutiona1 entrance, then the classification is the thru traffic road; strings of signals should be synchronized; signals should be traffic activated for low volume roads andor time periods and with major commerciaVinstitutiona1 entrances; nght turn I lanes should be provided at all arterial-to-arterial intersections; left turn lanes should be provided at all classification-to-classification intersections; all fire and police stations located. on any I classification should have emergency activated signals and left turn lanes. At this time, the Greenfield Township officials do not recognize the need for any additional signals in the Township. In the short range future, left turn lanes should be considered for the I following intersections: Routes 89/430 in all four directions; on Route 430 at Williams Road (and the entrance to the Fire Department); and on Route 89 at Wilson Road /Wildman Road. Also, the Township should consider a study for a flashing signal at Route 89 at Wilson Road, I which would include review of the sight-line problem at nearby Wildman Road.
Of note, all signalization and channelization improvements on the highway system require I PennDOT intersection feasibility studies to objectively determine whether any improvements are justified and what tyye and number of improvements are necessary to assist in maximizing traffic flow. These improvements are not authorized for speed control, but they are designed for I improving safety related problems.
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'I1 I I Municipal Transportation Svstem Improvements Greenfield Township officials maintain all dedicated local streets, which represent the bulk of ID the road miles in the municipality. The local transportation system improyements are'as follows: Continue the on-going program to upgrade all municipally owned roads in both pavement type and width to meet township specifications; 'I Consider the future need of new roadways to interior land for development on blocks that are greater than one mile in length.; Address sight distance and drainage concerns at certain intersections throughout the I Township; Continue the on-going program for road and roadside stormwater management repair and maintenance; I Expand the on-going snow removal contract program for state owned roads. This can significantly reduce response times for emergency vehicles; Continue to maintain the street name sign program for all intersections. It is recommended I that a special sign program be instituted for any new village or business park development within the Township; Change the name of State Road to avoid confusion with the interchange; I Change the name of Townline-Venango Road to avoid confusion with Townline Road; and I Consideration of changing the name of South Dougan Road due to County 91 1 concerns. It is anticipated that there will be increased development, and therefore traffic, along the newly designated 1-86 interchange. As that development occurs, it is recommended that the Township I institute a policy requiring each development where appropriate include the accommodation of interior access roads to deep lots. This would allow for fewer driveway cuts along State Route 89, which increases the traffic safety at the interchange. To be enforceable, the use of interior I access roads will need to be added as an amendment to the Greenfield Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. The recommended corridors of the proposed access roads were carefully laid out for planning purposes. However, the exact locations of the rights-of-way will I be determined at the time that the various parcels are developed.
The Greenfield Township officials have indicated that there is a si,gificant amount of bicycle I traffic along the shoulder of State Route 430. This roadway is used from the Penn State-Erie Behrend College in Harborcreek Township to Findley Lake Village in New York State by bicyclists who enjoy the challenges of steep hills in their training routine. It is recommended I that PennDOT increase the northern paved shoulder width on State Route 430 to be used as a designated bicycle lane. This corridor will then connect directly to the Greenfield Township Community Park. Also, if State Route 430 is improved in this manner west to Interstate 90, the I regional bicycle conidor would then connect directly with the bicycle path under construction 1 with the new East Side Connector Highway in the Erie metropolitan area. I
I 13 1 I The construction of the Lake Erie Speedway on Delmas Drive will require the construction of a I number of improvements to the State Route 89 and Delmas Drive intersection and surrounding area. It is anticipated that for big events up to 6,000 spectators can be accommodated at Lake I Erie Speedway. The following improvements are required: Paving Delmas Drive to the width of three lanes from its intersection with State Route 89 to the entrance of the development; I Traffic control (though the use of track and fire department personnel) to ensure that the vast majority of attendees exit the facility using only the paved portion of Delrnas Road and exiting on to State Route 89; I Construction of a right turn lane on southbound State Route 89 at Delmas Drive; Construction of a left turn lane for those traveling northbound on State Route 89; and On the day of a race, Event Ahead signs will be posted both northbound and southbound on D State Route 89.
It is not anticipated that a signal will be needed at the State Route 89 and Delmas Drive I intersection in the short-range future. If event traffic becomes unacceptable, a study should be conducted to determine the feasibility of the addition of a traffic control device at that I intersection at that time. I I I I I I I I I
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I I CHAPTER 5 LAND USE PLAN
I Introduction I As the guide for hture development, the Land Use Plan is designed to promote compatible land use patterns and discourage the haphazard use of land. Land is one of the most valuable resources, and municipal officials and landowners should feel responsible for developing land in I an efficient and environmentally sound manner. The land use planning process is the most logical approach to fulfilling that responsibility of wisely utilizing this resource. I Of all of the elements, which comprise the Comprehensive Plan, no other element is more important than the Land Use Plan. This Plan provides the framework for the orderly growth and development of the community over the next 10 io i5 years. Usually, the location of specific I activities such as local parks, local social, religious and educational institutions, fire and police stations and municipal buildings, etc. are determined in great part by land use patterns. In addition, land use controls, especially zoning ordinances, should be based upon the Land Use I Plan. For Pennsylvania communities, the need for planning is officially recognized by Act 247 of 1968, as amended, the Pennsylvania 1Municipalities Planning Code, which promotes the I planning process as a prerequisite to zoning controls and subdivision regulations. The Land Use Plan and accompanying Maps are the result of an inventory and analysis of existing population, economic and housing trends, transportation facilities, community facilities, public utilities, and consideration of the compatibility of classifications along municipal borders, as presented in the companion document, the 2001 Greenfield Township Background Analysis. The general land use categories discussed on the following pages refer to the Land Use Plan 1 Maps. It is important to note that these plans are not zoning maps but rather recommended future land use plans. The role of zoning in implementing this Plan will be discussed later. It is important to state however, that the future land use policies endorsed here by the Greenfield I Township Supervisors have been carefully weighed between the general public interest and individuals' rights in the use of their land. The following land use descriptions are given by individual classification. The compatibility of classifications along the borders of the three I surrounding municipalities was also taken into consideration, as previously mentioned.
Of note, the recommended Land Use Plan was developed reflecting the fill range of land uses, which must be accommodated within the community. The Land Use Plan attempts to implement the previously stated Goals and Objectives to the fullest extent possible.
Concept Development Lavout
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, has been significantly updated by Acts 67/68 of 2000 to provide guidance for local comprehensive planning efforts. The following options (as defined below) are provided by that legislation for the Township's consideration to delineate a concept development schematic.
15 I
Designated Growth Area: “a region within the county or counties described in a municipal or 1 multimunicipal plan that preferably includes and surrounds a city, borou& or village, and within which residential and mixed use development is permitted or planned for at densities of one unit to the acre or more, commercial, industrial and institutional uses are permitted or planned for and I public infrastructure services are provided or planned.”
Future Growth Area: “an area of a municipal or multimunicipal plan outside of and adjacent to I a designated growth area where residential, commercial, industrial and institutional uses and development are permitted or planned at varying densities and public infrastructure services may I or may not be provided, but future development at geater densities is planned to accompany the orderly extension and provision of public infrastructure services.” I Public Infrastructure Area: “a desigated growth area and all or any portion of a future growth area described in a county or multimunicipal comprehensive plan where public infrastructure sewices will be provided and outside of which such ptiblic infrastructure scrv-ices will not be I publicly financed. Public Infrastrtictiire Services: “services that are provided to areas with densities of one or I more units to the acre, which may include sanitary sewers and facilities for the collection and treatment of sewage, water lines and facilities for the pumping and treating of water, parks and open space, streets and sidewalks, public transportation and other services that may be I appropriated within a growth area, but shall exclude fire protection and emergency medical services and any other service required to protect the health and safety of residents.”
I Rural Resources Area : “an area described in a municipal or multimunicipal plan within which rural resource uses including, but not limited to, agriculture, timbering, mining, quarrying and other extractive industries, forests, and game lands and recreation and tourism are encouraged I and enhanced, development that is compatible with or supportive of such uses is permitted, and public infrastructure services are not provided except in villages.”
I Traditional Neighborhood Development: “an area of land developed for a compatible mixture of residential units for various income levels and nonresidential commercial and workplace uses, including some structures that provide for a mix of uses within the same building. Residences, I shops, offices, workplaces, public buildings and parks are interwoven within the neighborhood so that all are within relatively close proximity to each other. Traditional neighborhood development is relatively compact, limited in size and oriented toward pedestrian activity. It has I an identifiable center and a discernable edge. The center of the neighborhood is in the form of a public park, commons, plaza, square or prominent intersection of two or more major streets. Generally, there is a hierarchy of streets laid out in a rectilinear or grid pattern of interconnecting I streets and blocks that provides multiple routes from origins to destinations and are appropriately 1 designed to serve the needs of pedestrians and vehicles equally.” Village: “an unincorporated settlement that is part of a township where residential and mixed use densities of one unit to the acre or more exist or are permitted and commercial, industrial, or I institutional uses exist or are permitted.’’ I I 16 It is generally agreed that, at this time, the Township is clearly an agricultural and rural I community which is at the very early stages of development pressure or potential (due to the Southern Tier Expressway’s change in desigznation to Interstate 86 as well as the development of a NASCAR sanctioned racetrack in the Township). The accompanying Concept Development Layout Map contains the following areas based on the above observations: I It is not recommended that a Desipated Growth Area be located in the Township. It is recommended that a Future Growth Area be located in the Township primarily along the north/south comdor, and lightly on the easdwest corridor. I 0 It is not recommended that a Public Infrastructure Area or Services be located or provided for in the Township, except for the Township Community Park and Municipal Building properties. I 0 It is recommended that a Rural Resources Area be located in the Township in the eastern, western and southern portions of the community. It is not recommended that a Traditional Neighborhood Development Area be located in The next step in the process would be to layout the preliminary land use types within the proposed growth and village areas. The existing zoning districts were utilized as the primary reference to build upon. Then the potential and impact of the interchange area was given serious consideration, as well as acknowledgement that all basic forms of land use activities need to be accommodated in appropriate areas of the Township. See the accompanying Initial District I Designations Map, which will be further refined by various development considerations. 1 17 Possible Future Growth Areas * *These planning areas are defined in the GREENFIELD T0W”P Possible Village Area * Pennsylvania Municpalities Planning Code. CONCEPT D~LOPh7~NT~YO~aPossible Rural Resources Area * Erie County Department of Fianniy, 2001 Development Constraint Considerations The following factors were taken into consideration for finalizing the hture growth areas: the Township’s Agricultural Security Area program as delineated on the accompanying Agricultural I Considerations Map; the various existing tax-exempt properties as delineated on the Publichstitutional Considerations Map; the various existing floodplain and wetland and water features as delineated on the Conservation Considerations Map; and the various existing US I Geological Survey land features as delineated on the Topographic Considerations Map. I I 18 I Future Land Use Plan The future land use plan represents the integration of all the trends delineated in the 2001 Greenfield Township Background Analysis, and the intent of the Goals and Objectives, Housing I Plan, Community Facilities Plan, Transportation Plan, and the conservation considerations in this Comprehensive Plan. The future land use plan is designed to allow for a visual look at how the I Township anticipates being able to shape the gowth of the Township over the next 10-15 years. Following is a general description of the various land use categories referred to for the future land use plan. Conservation - The purpose of this classification is to directly recognize the unique characteristics of the major streams, ponds, reservoir, wetlands and the natural greenways created by them. Preservation of these natural amenities is highly recommended. These areas are considered an overlq district to be utilized with 8 fLi;ure conservation subdivision desig I program. Public Recreation - This classification includes the State Game Lands and the Greenfield I Township Community Park. RriraZ Resources Area - This classification as defined on page 16 includes single family I detached housing on individual lots of record with a recommended overall density of one dwelling unit per two acres, which could be reduced utilizing the conservation subdivision I design concept. Public and Institutional - This classification includes churches, cemeteries, the Fire Department, the Township Municipal building complex, the North East water system properties, I and PennDOT properties. Village Residerrtial4kfiwd Use - This classification as defined on page 16 includes single family I detached housing on individual lots of record with a recommended overall density of one dwelling unit per acre. The delineated village mixed use portion recognizes the unique mini- 1 business district that has developed in the heart of Little Hope Village. Mixed Use and Mixed Density Housing - This classification denotes land used for all basic forms of housing including single family detached dwellings, and for housing structures for more I than one family and includes single family attached dwellings (such as duplexes, townhouses and condominiums), apartment buildings, planned residential developments, and similar uses, arranged individually and in organized subdivisions or cluster groupings. The recommended I overall density is one dwelling unit per acre, which could be reduced utilizing private state approved sewer and or water systems. I Highway Conzrnercial - This classification refers to land which is used for the purpose of supplying commodities or services to the general public. Included are uses relating to both retail I and wholesale trade, professional and personal services, general office facilities, sales and service, entertainment, restaurants, motels or hotels, and similar uses. I I 19 Interchange Business - This classification represents commercial activities that naturally gravitate to interstate connections to the local highway system and are aimed at businesses that have a more regional base and clientele, and that will serve the specific needs of the new NASCAR racetrack located in the 1-86 interchange area. Industrial - This classification denotes land which contains facilities for the mechanical or chemical transformation of substances into new products. Included are manufacturing, I processing, packaging, storage, warehousing,, research laboratories, power plants, landfills/recycling centers, and similar uses. As the accompanying Long Range Land Use Plan Map indicates, it is the intent of Greenfield Township to concentrate highway commercial, industrial and higher density residential uses in the northern and southern portion of the Township along State Route 89. This will allow for the best use of the Interstate 86 interchange, and the most prominent intersection in the Township at Colt Station , and in Little Hope Village. These future growth areas reprssaii approximately 13% of the total Township. The remaining 87% of the Township is recommended to remain relatively rural in nature. It is in this area that the concepts of Conservation Subdivision Design will become prominent. This development concept allows for the reduction of the required lot size in return for permanently designated shared open space and greenway areas. For more details on this concept, please refer to Appendix A of this document entitled Conservation Subdivision Design. 20 I I French Creek Conservation Plan French Creek and the West Branch of French Creek originate in Chautauqua County, NY and I flows southwest to their confluence in Erie County, Pennsylvania. It traverses Greenfield Township from its border with New York, passes just north of Little Hope village and then I enters Venango Township at its border with Greenfield Township just west of State Route 89. The following has been taken from the French Creek Conservation Plan as developed by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (2001). For a copy of the entire plan, please contact the I Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 11881 Valley Road, Union City, PA 16438 or at the Greenfield Township iMunicipa1 Building. I French Creek in southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania, is arguably the most ecologically significant waterway in Pennsylvania. It contains more species of fish and freshwater musseis than any other comparabiy sized stream in the Commonwealth and possibly I the northeastern United States. The French Creek Conservation Plan is intended to compile and present information on watershed resources and potential or known threats to those resources. The plan provides a fairly comprehensive watershed description with information from the 1 public and other sources on watershed resources and potential threats to those resources. Hialights of the recommendations of that Plan, which should be taken into consideration for the I Greenfield Township portion of this regional watershed, are as follows: Agriculture I 0 Increase Streambank Fencing - Livestock should not have free access to streams. 0 Promote Agricultural BMP’s and NMP’s - Promote agricultural best management practices and nutrient management practices and supply assistance to encourage farmers I to implement projects. Such projects can include barnyard stabilization and manure management. I 0 Riparian Buffers - Promote leaving riparian buffers between crops and streams. Transportation I Monitor road inputs to adjacent streams and lakes - Monitoring road inputs at critical times of the years should be done to determine if salt applications should be modified. 0 Address stream protection in emergency response - Make sure emergency response is I adequate for stream protection. 0 Increase education for Emergency Responders on Stream Issues - County and PADEP I emergency response education for dealing with stream protection. Recreation Address ATV Usage - Promote regulations for stream crossings with fines for non- I compliance. Promote designated trails in less sensitive areas. 0 Encourage Designated Trails and Railtrail Development - Designate and develop 1 appropriate trails and railtrails along stream corridors. 0 Research Appropriate Stream Access Locations - Access areas should be located in I appropriate areas based on ecological research. I 21 1 I Increase Public Education about linkages between Recreation and Invasive Species . Promote Catch and Release. Customize Creel limits and legal sizes. I Customize Baitfish Regulations. Increase Public Education about impacts of Powerboating - Link water quality to quality of life in educational programs. I Develop Riparian Development Guidelines - Guidelines for cabins or trails that would maximize protection of riparian areas. This may require mandatory setbacks and zoning. I Urbanization Mandatory Setbacks for Development - along waterways and wetlands. I Promote Green Space in Development. Urban Stream Revitalization - restoration of bank and riparian habitats.. Designate Growth Areas. I Long Range Planning. 0 Evaluate Land Use Planning Options - Promote assistance to municipalities for zoning, I subdivision, and comprehensive planning issues. Encourage multi-municipal planning. I 22 I CHAPTER 6 ‘I~’ IMPLENIENT-ATION and INTER-RELATIONSHIPS Lntroduction 1 The Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan is a study whch designates a recommended course for both hture development and preservation. It should be viewed primarily as a framework for action; a flexible guide rather than a rigid document. It consists of a series of I general concepts and specific recommendations in the fields of housing, community facilities/public utilities, transportation, and land use. This guide for action section of the Plan will take those concepts and recommendations and establish short and long range I implementation strategies for the Greenfield community. I Comprehensive Plan Upon finalization of this study, the Greenfield Township Board of Supervisors should formally adopt the 200 1 Greenfield Township Comprehensive Plan. The adoption process should follow I the requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968 as amended (MPC). The adoption process includes: proper advertisement; public meeting(s) by the Township Planning Commission; a public hearing held by the Board of Supervisors; the ‘I submittal for review and comment to the surrounding governments of Greene, Harborcreek, North East and Venango Townships, Mina Town (New York), the Wattsburg Area School I District, and the County of Erie; then adoption at a public business meeting. Zoning Ordinance I No single document is more important than a municipal zoning ordinance to assist in implementing many of the concepts and recommendations delineated in this Comprehensive Plan. During the adoption phase of this Plan, the Greenfield Township officials should begin an I update to the zoning ordinance and map in order to be in general compliance with the intent of this Comprehensive Plan as adopted, with Conservation Subdivision Design standards, with the I Greenfield Township Agricultural Security Area (ASA) programs and with the MPC as most recently amended. I Upon finalization of this municipal land use control, the Greenfield Township officials should formally adopt the amended Zoning Ordinance and Map. The adoption process should also be in I compliance with the MPC as outlined in the above section. Subdivision and Land DeveloDment Ordinance I A companion land use control to the zoning ordinance to assist in implementing this Comprehensive Plan is the municipal subdivision ordinance. At this time, the land development regulations under this ordinance pertain only to the development of mobile home parks. It is 1 recommended that Greenfield Township adopt land development regulations which apply to the I 23 I development of all new commercial and industrial uses. During the adoption phase of this Plan, the Greenfield Township officials should begin an extensive update to the subdivision and land development ordinance in order to be in general compliance with the intent of this Comprehensive Plan, with Conservation Subdivision Desicg standards, with the MPC as most recently amended, and with the amended Zoning Ordinance as finalized. Upon finalization of the updated municipal zoning ordinance, the Greenfield Township officials should formally adopt an amended Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance at the same time as the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance, also in compliance with the MPC. Official Map Greenfield Township has the option to enact an official map through the MPC which may show appropriate elements of the Comprehensive Plan with regard to transportation, public land and facilities. In order to make it easier to implement this Comprehensive Plan, Greenfield Township officials should consider adopting an Official Map Ordinance to include the reservation of the following: rights-of-way to implement the Transportation Plan, park land, and other proposed municipal facilities. LERTA Ordinance Greenfield Township has the option to enact local economic revitalization tax assistance (LERTA) regulations. As a point of reference, the Township currently has a LERTA Ordinance. In order to assist business developers in defraying the cost of the utility and other infkastructure I requirements, Greenfield Township officials adopted the LERTA Ordinance to encompass the I- 86 interchange, Colt Station and an area of State Route 430 which are planned to contain both commercial and industrial uses. Refer to the enclosed LERTA Program Map which outlines the specific parcels which have this tax incentive. LERTA properties should be in general compliance with the proposed designated growth areas of this Comprehensive Plan, and with the amended Zoning Ordinance as finalized. Buildina Codes Greenfield Township has the option to enact local building regulations for the protection of public health, safety and welfare under the Second Class Township Code. Available local codes include: building, one and two-family dwelling, electrical, plumbing, natural gas, mechanical, industrialized dwelling, fire prevention, and property maintenance. After the adoption of this Comprehensive Plan, the Greenfield Township officials should consider the adoption of building regulations to be in compliance with the intent of this Comprehensive Plan, the updated Zoning Ordinance, the updated Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, and the upcoming State Uniform Construction Code (working with the County and PA Township Associations). 24 ‘I Municipal Services The Greenfield Township officials should pursue any and all avenues to cooperate, coordinate I and collaborate with the surrounding townships on existing and proposed municipal .services. Short range projects could include the group purchases of materials and supplies, the sharing of equipment and facilities on an at-cost basis, the sharing of personnel, the development of joint I transportation, recreational andor library facilities, and the sharing of responsibilities to implement the State Uniform Construction Code. I The Greenfield Township officials should continue to consistently administer their Stormwater Management Ordinance pursuant to the adopted Erie County Stormwater Management Plan and I their Floodplain Management regulations for new development projects. The Greenfield Township officials should continue to be active participants in the following affiliations: the Erie (Transportation) Metropolitan Planning Organization; the Erie County I Planning Commission; the Erie County Township Association; and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors; to promote the implementation of the general concepts I and specific recommendations of this Comprehensive Plan. Technical and Financial Assistance I No community could implement a majority of the recommendations in a local comprehensive plan without technical and financial assistance from Federal, State, and regional agencies. There I are numerous assistance programs and services available to small municipalities from agencies. PA DCED has developed a Funding Source Directory providing a brief program description, listing of eligible applicants, eligible activities, and application requirements. The 20 programs I outlined under Business, Community or Municipal Assistance are contained in Appendix H of this Comprehensive Plan. ~I As a desk reference to small towns and rural townships, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania has developed a Rural Access Guide. The Guide provides useful information on nearly 400 of the most commonly utilized Federal, State and regional programs and services for rural communities ‘I in Pennsylvania. Each program is given one full page with the following description outlined. 1. Program Name/Type 5. Target Audience 9. Annual Funding I 2. Contact Information 6. Eligibility Criteria 10. Grants An.arded 3. Goals and Objectives 7. Application Dates 11. Grantees I 4. Restrictions and Limits 8. Use of Funds 12. Evaluation A number of the delineated programs and services from the Rural Access Guide will assist in I implementing the goals and objectives of this Comprehensive Plan, and are aimed at local governments, authorities, community based agencies and educational institutions. The listing of the Guide’s programs and services by category are contained in Appendix I of this I Comprehensive Plan. I 25 I APPENDIX A CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION DESIGN I I Conservation Subdivision Design I I Goals and Objectives of Greenfield Township e protect unique geologic, vegetative and other ecological areas to ensure variety in the environment, to serve as outdoor education resources, to guard against damage to life I and property, and to preserve the natural amenities; e protect the groundwater resources in those areas that are dependent upon on-lot wells for potable water by such methods as restricting the types and densities of I development in recharge areas; e discourage encroachment upon streams and their flood plains and wetlands, ponds, and high water table areas that threaten to degrade the natural condition of their I waters and/or banks; e promote efficient land use patterns that lead to efficient energy utilization; e prevent the infringement of the scenic elements such as dense woodlands, water I bodies, and steep slopes and hilltops by relating significant development to natural features; e encourage the elimination, isolation, or screening of significnat visual distractions I created by people; e encourage the use of landscaping and conservation practices to enhance the visual I quality of the man-made environment; e encourage placing utilities underground when practical and encourage attractive design or blending with the natural environment when underground placement is not I practical; e encourage the protection of scenic views and vistas; e control the use of signs in terms of number, type, size and location, and encourage I aesthetics and attractiveness in their design; e encourage the concentration of land uses in discernible clusters and limit both strip development and irregularly dispersed development patterns; I e discourage the indiscriminate spread of commercial and industrial uses, particularly the encroachment of these uses upon existing or future residential areas; e discourage the adverse sprawl of higher and medium density residential development; I e promote innovative development concepts such as planned residential developments which encourage variety in neighborhood and architectural design; and e employ appropriate land use controls to guide future uses and densities of I development in accordance with the accompanying plan elements. I I A- 1 I 1 a Each time a property is developed into a residential subdivision, an opportunity exists for adding land to a community-wide network of open space. Although such opportunities are seldom taken in many municipalities, this situation could be reversed fairly easily by I making several small but significant changes to three basic land-use documents - the comprehensive plan, the zoning ordinance and the subdivision and land development I ordinance. Simply stated, Conservation Subdivision regulations encourage developers to rearrange the development on each parcel as it is being planned so that one-half (or more) of the I buildable land is set aside as open space. Without controversial “down zoning”, the same number of homes can be built in a less land-consumptive manner, allowing the balance of property to be permanently protected and added to an interconnected network of I community green spaces. This “density-neutral” approach provides a fair and equitable way to balance conservation and development objectives. I Communities protect open space because it protects streams and water quality, provides habitat for plants and animals, preserves rural “atmosphere”, provides recreational areas, protects home values and reduces the cost of municipal services. In short, land I conservation makes the community a better place to live. Four basic actions underlie the I Conservation Subdivision process: I 1. Envision the Future: Performing Community Audits Successful communities have a realistic understanding of their future. The audit projects past and current development trends into the future so that officials and residents may I easily see the long-term results of continuing with current ordinance provisions. Communities use this knowledge to periodically review and adjust their goals and I strategies for conservation and development. 2. Protect Open Space Networks Through Conservation Planning Successful communities have a good understanding of their natural and cultural I resources. They establish reasonable goals for conservation and development - goals that reflect their special resources, existing land use patterns and anticipated growth. Their comprehensive plan documents these resources, goals and policies. The plan contains language about the kinds of ordinance updating and conservation programs necessary for those goals to be realized. A key part of the Comprehensive Plan is a Map of Pofenfial Conservation Lands that is intended to guide the location of open space in each new subdivision as it is being laid out. (See Land Use Plan portion of the Comprehensive Plan) 3. Conservation Zoning: A “Menu of Choices” Successful communities have legally defensible, well-written zoning regulations that meet their “fair share” of future growth and provide for a logical balance between community goals and private landowner interests. They incorporate resource suitabilities, flexibility, and incentives to require the inclusion of permanent conservation II lands into new subdivisions. Each of the five choices respect private property rights of A-2 developers without unduly impacting the remaining natural areas that make our I communities such special places to live, work, recreate and invest in. 4. Conservation Subdivision Design: A Four Step Process I Successful communities recognize that both design standards and the design process play an important part in conserving community resources. Such communities adopt subdivision codes which require detailed site surveys and analyses identifying the special I features of each property, and introduce a simple methodology showing how to lay out new development so that the majority of those special features will be permanently I protected in designated conservation areas or preserves. To a considerable extent, those preserves within new subdivisions can be identified in the Comprehensive Plan SO that each area will form an integral part of the community-wide network of protected open I space, as noted previously. Resource Inventory Wetlands and their Buffers Lands that are seasonally or permanently wet comprise one of the most basic resources in I any community. These should be one of the first kinds of resources to be identified, together with dry, upland buffer areas around them. These buffers perform a number of I significant functions such as filtering stormwater runoff, providing critical habitat at the landwater interface, and offering opportunities for wildlife travel comdors as well as I informal walking trails for use by the immediate neighborhood. Floodways and Floodplains lMaps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) constitute the I most accurate and readily available data on the location of floodways and floodplains. Floodways are the areas where floodwater is expected to move at relatively high velocities, such as along the edges of rivers and creeks, or wherever floodwater is I channeled. Floodplains are those areas expected to be inundated with two or more feet of water at least once during the time period that is specified (typically 100 years). I Moderate and Steep Slopes Most communities will find it helpful in achieving their resource conservation objectives to identify two different categories of slopes. Due to their high potential for erosion and I consequent sedimentation of watercourses and waterbodies, slopes with gradients over 25% should be avoided for clearing, regrading or construction. Slopes between 10% and I 25% require special site planning and should also be avoided whenever practicable. Groundwater Resources and Recharge Areas The term “aquifer” refers to underground water reserves occupying billions of tiny spaces I between sand grains and other soil particles, including gravel. They are ‘brecharged”’with surface water seeping downward through course sandy or gravelly deposits, andor at low points in the landscape where wetlands frequently occur. I A-3 I -I Woodlands In parts of Pennsylvania where the majority of original forest has long been cleared away for commercial agriculture, woodlands may be described as remnants, often located in lower-lying areas with relatively damp soils or on the steeper slopes. This may be I identified by using aerial photography. I Productive Farmland Maps showing the location of soils rated as being “prime” or “of “statewide significance” can be obtained through the U.S.Department of Agriculture. Because these maps are I typically reproduced on aerial photography, it is relatively easy to isolate those examples of soils that occur on unwooded parcels where farming actually occurs. I Sign $cant PVildIife Ha bitat Habitats of threatened or endangered wiIdlife species should be mapped, at least in their ger?era! location. This informatior. wil! be &en %om the Nahra! Haitage !nver?tory I prepared in 1994. . Historic, Archaeological and Cultural Features I Because published documentation on the location of buildings or other resources with historic, archaeoIogica1 or cultural significance is far from complete, landowners and local historians or historical groups will be contacted to supplement any official lists such 1 as the National Register of Historic Places or the historic or archaeological site inventories which have been previously compiled. I Scenic Viewshedsfiom Public Roads An inventory needs to be conducted by two or more persons noting any scenic views that exist within the municipality. Although scenic viewshed protection does not provide 1 sufficient grounds for denying subdivision approval, it can play an important part in supplementing other features of secondary importance. I Plan Implementation It is recommended that Greenfield Township modify their Zoning and Subdivision and Land Development ordinances to require the ideas represented in this appendix in the I areas designated as Rural Resources Areas on the Conceptual Land Use Map. , Also, Greenfield Township may want to consider a new requirement to regulate the amount of frontage on an existing roadway that a new residential development is allowed to use prior to the addition of a new road. The current trend in Greenfield Township is to develop all of the existing frontage first, which leaves large vacant areas behind the new development. This development pattern decreases the opportunity for the location of new roadways to open the interior of existing blocks as well as reduces the rural characteristic I of the Township. A4 1 I Growing Greener lIaD 0 I I ommunities across Pennsylvania are realizing that they can conserve their special open spaces and natural resources C at the same time they achieve their development objectives. ~1 The tools? Conservation zoning and conservation subdivision design, I an approach we’re calling Growing Greener. I I I I I 1 These Growing Greener tools are illustrated in the above subdivision, where the de- veloper builds the maximum number of homes permitted under the municipality’s I zoning, while at the same time permanently protecting over half of the propeq. The open space is then added to an interconnected network of community greenspaces. 1 If you want your community to take control of its destiny and ensure that new development creates more livable communities in the process, I the Growing Grzener approach might be right for you. I Growing Greener I I I Introduction his booklet summa- three Growing Greener pilot I rizes how munici- workshops hosted by the palities can use the Centre County Planning development process to Commission, Centre Re- I their advantage to protect gion Planning Agency, Tri- interconnected networks of County Regional Planning open space: natural areas, Commission and the I greenways, trails and recre- Union County Planning ational land. Communities Commission. Our focus ccIn cake control of cheir during 1998 will be helping I destinies so that their con- county planning agencies servation goals are and other planning organi- achieved in a manner fair zations build their capacity to all parties concerned. to help the communities 1 All that is needed are some they work with realize their relatively straightJforward conservation goals. In or- amendments to municipal der to assist them, Natural I comprehensive plans, zon- Lands Trust has developed Growing Greener publication prepared by ing ordinances, and subdi- multi-media educational Natural Lands Trust, Inc. vision ordinances. These materials available for use I Randall G. Arendt steps are described in the by community planners Vice President sections that follow. across the state. We invite Conservation Planning Growing Greener is a col- county planning agencies Author laborative effort of the and interested plannirlg I Ann E. Hutchinson Pennsylvania Department consultants and conservan- Conservation Planner of Conservation and Natu- cies to join us as Growing Editor ral Resources, Natural Greener partners. I Holly M. Harper Lands Trust, Pennsylvania Landscape Architect State University Coopera- Graphic Design tive Extension and an How do I learn more? Steve Kuter I advisory committee com- Cartographer For more information Graphics prised of officials from the contact: Department of Community I and Economic Develop- Funding provided by ment, Center for Rural 7-l :--&-I Pennsylvania Department Pennsylvania, Lycoming 7Rr$@ggg- of Conservation and County Planning Commis- 'I Natural Resources NATURAL sion, Pennsylvania LANDS The William Penn Environmental Council, TRUST Foundation Pennsylvania Planning 'I Association and Depart- 103 1 Palmers Mill Road The Alexander bledia, PA 19063 Stewart, M.D. Foundation ment of Environmental Protect ion. rtl (610) 353-5587 I Novrmbrr 1997 During 1997, Natural (610) 353-0517 Lands Trust conducted r-mad [email protected] I I Growing Greener I The Conservation Design Concept ach time a property is developed into a residential subdivision, an opportunity exists for adding land to a community-wide network of open space. Although such opportunities are ‘Eseldom taken in many municipalities, this situation could be reversed fairly easily by mak- Iing several small but significant changes to three basic local land-use documents-the comprehen- sive plan, the zoning ordinance and the subdivision and land development ordinance. Simply stated, Conservation Design rearranges the development on each parcel as it is being planned so that half (or more) of the buildable land is set aside as open space. Without controversial “down zoning,” the same number of homes can be built in a less land-consumptive manner, allowing the balance of the property to be permanently protected and added to an interconnected network of community green spaces. This “density-neutral” approach provides a fair and equitable way to Ibalance conservation and development objectives. Four Keys to Conservation ICommunities protect open tinuing with current ordinance updating and inclusion of permanent space because it protects ordinance provisions. conservation programs conservation lands into streams and water quality, Communities use this necessary for those goals to new subdivisions. The five provides habitat for plants knowledge to periodically be realized. A key part of zoning options summarized and animals, preserves rural review and adjust their the Comprehensive Plan is in this publication and “atmosphere,” provides goals and strategies for a Map of Potential Conser- described in detail in the Irecreational areas, protects conservation and develop- vation Lands that is in- Growing Greener manual home values and reduces ment. tended to guide the respect the private property location of open space in rights of developers with- costs of municipal services. Protect Open Space In short, land conservation each new subdivision as it out unduly impacting the Networks Through I 2 is being laid out. remaining natural areas makes your community a Conservation P/anning. that make our communities better place to live. Four Successful communities Conservation Zoning: basic actions underlie the such special places in have a good understanding A “Menu of Choices.” 3 which to live, work, IGrowing Greener process: of their natural and cul- Successful communities recreate and invest in. Envision the Future: tural resources. They have legally defensible, 11 Performing “community establish reasonable goals well-written zoning regula- Conservation Subdi- audits.” Successful com- for conservation and tions that meet their “fair 4 vision Design: A Four- munities have a realistic development-goals that share” of future growth and Step Process. Successful understanding of their reflect their special re- provide for a logical communities recognize that Ifuture. The audit projects sources, existing land use balance between commu- both design standards and past and current develop- patterns and anticipated nity goals and private the design process play an ment trends into the future growth. Their comprehen- landowner interests. They important part in conserv- so that officials and resi- sive plans document these incorporate resource ing community resources- dents mav easilv see the resources, goals and poli- suitabilities, flexibility, and Such communities adopt long-term results of con- cies. The plan contains incentives to require the subdivision codes which I language about the kinds of require detailed site surveys I 1 November 1997 - 1 G roi;;ing 12reener I and analyses identifying considerable extent, those the special features of each preserves within new property, and introduce a subdivisions can be pre- I simple methodology identified in the Compre- showing how to lay out hensive Plan so that each new development so that such area will form an I the majority of those integral part of a commu- special features will be nity-wide network of permanently protected in protected open space, as Figure 2 designated conservation noted above. A matching pair of graphics, taken from an actual “build-out map.” showing I areas or preserves. To a existing conditions (mostly undeveloped land) contrasted with the potential development pattern of “checkerboard suburbia” created through conven- tional zoning and subdivision regulations. I 1 Envisioning the Future 1 PerJorming ‘Community Audits” Numerical Analysis of “Build-Out” Maps. I Development Trends. The third step entails The “community audit” The process helps start The first step involves a mapping future develop- visioning process helps discussions about how numerical analysis of ment patterns on a map of I local officials and residents current trends can be growth projections, both in the entire municipality see the ultimate result of modified so that a greener terms of the number of (see Figure 2). Altema- continuing to implement future is ensured. dwelling units and the tively, the “build-out’’ map I current land-use policies. Sad but true, the future number of acres that will could focus only on se- that faces most communi- probably be converted into lected areas in the munici- ties with standard zoning houselots and streets under pality where development 1937 and subdivision codes is to present codes. is of the greatest immediate i witness the systematic concern, perhaps due to Regulatory Evaluation. conversion of every unpro- the presence of special The second step consists of tected acre of buildable features identified in the an evaluation of the land- 1 land into developed uses. comprehensive plan or use regulations that are Most local ordinances. vulnerability due to devel- currently on the books, allow or encourage stan- opment pressures. identifying their strengths I dardized layouts of “wall- and weaknesses and to-wall houselots.” Over a The following parts of this offering constructive booklet describe practical period of decades this recommendations about process produces a broader ways in which communities I how they can incorporate can take control of their pattern of “wall-to-wall the conservation tech- destinies so that conservation subdivisions” (see Figure niques described in this goals will be achieved simul- 1). No community actively booklet. It should also I plans to become a bland taneously with development include a realistic appraisal objectives, a mannsr that suburb without open space. of the extent to which in However, most zoning is fair to all parties con- private conservation efforts I codes program exactly this cerned. Three interrelated are likely to succeed in documents-the Compehen- outcome. protecting lands from sive Plan, Zoning Code and Municipalities can development through I perform audits to see the Subdivision and Land Devel- various nonregulatory Figure I future before it happens, so opment Code, stand together approaches such as pur- The pattern of “wall-to-wall subdivi- that they will be able to like a three-legged stool sions” that evolves over time with chases or donations of providing a balanced footing I zoning and subdivision ordinances judge whether a mid-course easements or fee title which require developers to pro- for achieving a municipality’s correction is needed. A interests. vide nothing more than houselots conservation goals. 1 and streets. community audit entails: I 2 Nmdm1997 Growing Greener viewsheds). It will also the community-wide Map Protecting Open Space reveal gaps where no of Potential Conservation Networks Through features appear. Lands are Conservation 2 Although this exercise is Zoning and Conservation not an exact science, it Subdivision Design. These Conservation Planning frequently helps local techniques which work officials and residents hand in hand are described Although many communi- woodlands, wildlife habi- visua1i:e how various kinds in detail below. Briefly ties have adopted either tats and travel corridors, of resource areas are stated, conservation zoning Comprehensive Plans or prime farmland, groundwa- connected to one another, expands the range of Open Space Plans contain- ter recharge areas, green- and enables them to development choices ing detailed inventories of ways and trails, river and tentatively identify both available to landowners their natural and historic stream corridors, historic broad swaths and narrow and developers. Just as resources, very few have sites and buildings, and corridors of resource land importantly, it also elimi- taken the next logical step scenic viewsheds. These that could be protected in nates the option of creating of pulling together all that Semndaq-Conservation a variety of ways. full-density “checkerboard” information and creating a Areas are often best I Figure 3 shows a portion layouts that convert all understood the local Map of Potential Conserua- by of a map prepared for one land within new subdivi- tion Lands. residents who may be Chester County township sions into houselots and I Such a map is vitally directly involved in their which has followed this streets. important to any commu- identification. Usually approach. The second technique, nity interested in conserv- these resource areas are The planning techniques “conservation subdivision ing an interconnected totally unprotected and are which can best implement design,” devotes half or I network of open space. The simply zoned for one kind map serves as the tool of development or another.. which guides decisions A base map is then regarding which land to prepared on which the protect in order for the Primary Conservation network to eventually take Areas have been added to I form and have substance. an inventory of lands A Map of Potential which are already protected Conservation Lands starts (such as parks, land trust with information contained preserves, and properties I in the community’s exist- under conservation ease- ing planning documents. ment). Clear acetate sheets The next task is to identify showing each kind of i two kinds of resource areas. Secondary Conservation Primary Conservation Areas Area are then laid on top comprise only the most of the base map in an order I severely constrained lands, reflecting the community’s where development is preservation priorities (as typically restricted under determined through public I current codes and laws discussion). (such as wetlands, flood- This overlay process will reveal certain situations Figure 3 plains, and slopes exceed- Part of a Mop ofPotenti01 Conservcnion Londs for West Manchester Township. 1 ing 2596). Secondary where two or more conser- York County. West Manchester’s map gives clear guidance to landownen Conservation Areas include vation features appear and developers as to where new development is encouraged on their propemies. Township officials engaged a consultantto draw, on the officialQx all other locally notewor- together (such as wood- parcel maps, boundaries of the new conservation lands network as it crossed thy or significant features lands and wildlife habitats, various properties. showing how areas required to be preserved in each new I or farmland and scenic development could be located so they would ultimately connect with each of the natural or cultural other. In this formerly agricultural municipality the hedgerows, woodland landscape-such as mature remnants, and the riparian buffer along the creek were identified Core I elements of the conservation necwork. 3 I norm&^ 1997 I Growing Gresner I more of the buildable land of Potential Conservation Figure 4 shows how the scape where an intercon- area within a residential Lands as a template for the open space in three adjoin- nected network of conser- development as undivided layout and design of ing subdivisions has been vation lands has been I permanent open space. Not conservation areas within designed to connect, and gradually protected surprisingly, the most new subdivisions, these illustrates the way in which through the steady applica- important step in designing developments help to the [Map of Potential Con- tion of conservation zoning I a conservation subdivision create an interconnected servation Lands can become techniques and conserva- is to identify the land that network of open space a reality. tion subdivision design is to be preserved. By using spanning the entire mu- Figure 5 provides a standards. I the community-wide Map nicipality. bird’s-eye view of a land- I Conservation Zoning I 3A “Mend’of Choices The main reason subdivi- Figure 7: “Option 1”). sions typically consist of Another full-density nothing more than option could include a 25 I houseiots and streets is that percent density bonus for most local land-use ordi- preserving 60 percent of nances ask little, if any- the unconstrained land I thing, with respect to (Figure 8: “Option 2”). conserving open space or Municipalities might also providing neighborhood consider offering as much I Figure 4 amenities (see Figure 6). as a 100 percent density The conservation lands (shown in gray) were deliberately laid out to form Communities wishing to bonus for protecting 70 part of an interconnected network of open space in these three adjoining break the cycle of “wall-to- percent of that land subdivisions. I wall houselots” need to (Figure 11: “Option 5”). consider modifying their It is noteworthy that the zoning to actively and 36 village-like lots in legally encourage subdivi- Option 5 occupy less land I sions that set aside at least than the 18 lots in Option 50 percent of the land as 1, and that Option 5 permanently protected therefore contributes more I open space and to incorpo- significantly to the goal of rate substantial density creating community-wide disincentives for developers networks of open space. I who do not conserve any The village-scale lots in significant percentage of Option 5 are particularly land. popular with empty- I Following this approach, nesters, single-parent a municipality would first households, and couples *- calculate a site’s yield using with young children. Its Kurd wrm traditional zoning. A traditional layout is based I can bcprcrmd developer would then be on that of historic hamlets Figure 5 permitted full density only and villages in the region, This sketch shows how you can apply the techniques described in this book- if at least 50 percent of the and new developments in I let to set aside open space which preserves rural character, expands buildable land is main- this category could be community parkland and creates privacy for residences. (Source: Montgom- ety County Planning Commission) tained as undivided open controlled as Conditional I space (illustrated in I I Growing Greener I I I LcmmmsLn Uwinal~~~ Figure 6 YIELD PLAN :‘-I - The kind of subdivision most frequently created in Pennsylvania is the type 200n :I-\ which blankets the development parcel with houselots. and which pays little man if any attention to designing around the special features of the property. In Figure7 OPTION I this example, the house placement avoids the primary conservation areas, Density-neutral with Pre-existing Zoning but disregards the secondary conservation features. However, such a sketch ia lots can provide a useful estimate of a site’s capacity to accommodate new Lot Size Range: 20,000 to 40,000 sq. ft houses at the base density allowed under zoning-and is therefore known 50% undivided open space as a “Yield Plan.” -LMw* YI.mm k.no. co( SvS OnU ;I Mte ,y?.rrm isa n ir-I -1 2% It Figure 9 OPTION 3 Figure 8 OPTION 2 50% Density Reduction Enhanced Conservation and Density 9 Lots 24 Lots Typical Lot Size: 160.000 sq. (4 acres) Lot Size Range: 12.000 to 24.000 sq. k k Estate Lots 60% undivided open space 5 Nwemba 1997 I Growing Greener I Uses subject to a set of would combine Options 4 extensively illustrated and 5, with the Option 4 design standards. “country properties” I Developers wishing to comprising part of the serve the “estate lot” mar- required greenbelt open ket have two additional space around an Option 5 I options. One involves lots village (see Figure 12). containing at least four Conspicuously absent acres of unconstrained land from this menu of choices (Figure 9: “Option 3”). is the conventional full- I The other is comprised of density subdivision provid- “country properties” of at ing no unfragmented open least 10 acres, which may space (Figure 6). Because I be accessed by gravel drives that kind of development built to new township causes the largest loss of standards for very low- resource land and poses the I volume rural lanes greatest obstacle to conser- (Figure 10: “Option 4”). vation efforts, it is not An additional incentive included as an option Figure 10 OPTION 4 to encourage developers to under this approach. I Country Properties 5 Lou choose this fourth option For illustrative purposes, Maximum Density: IO acres per principal dwelling would typically be permis- this booklet uses a one 70% density reduction sion to build up to two dwelling unit per two acre I accessory dwellings on density. However, conser- these properties. Those vation zoning is equally units would normally be applicable to higher 1 limited in size, subject to density zoning districts of architectural design three or four units per acre. standards to resemble Such densities typically I traditional estate buildings, occur in villages, boroughs, and restricted from further urban growth boundary lot division. areas and TDR receiving I Two or more of these areas where open space options could be combined setasides are critical to the on a single large property. residents’ quality of life. I One logical approach I 1 I Figure I I OPTION 5 Hamlet or Village 1 36 Lou Figure 12 Lot Size Range: 6.000 to 12.000 sq. k An Option 5 village surrounded by its own open space and buffered from the 70% undivided open space township road by two “country properties” (Option 4). I Nw- 1997 6 I Growing Greener I A Conservation I 7 Subdivision Design A Four-Step Process I Designing subdivisions individual free-standing around the central organiz- trees or tree groups, wildlife ing principle of land habitats and travel corri- I conservation is not diffi- dors, historic sites and cult. However, it is essen- structures, scenic tial that ordinances viewsheds, etc. After I contain clear standards to “greenlining” these conser- guide the conservation vation elements, the &sign prcccss. The fair- remaining par^ cjf tt;e I step approach described property becomes the below has been proven to Potential Development Area be effective in laying out (Figure 15). new full-density develop- Step Two involves I ments where all the locating sites of individual significant natural and houses within the Potential Figure I3 STEP ONE, Port One cultural features have been Development Area so that Identifying Primary Conservation Areas I preserved. their views of the open Step One consists of space are maximized identifying the land that (Figure 16). The number of I should be permanently houses is a function of the protected. The developer density permitted within incorporates areas pre- the zoning district, as I identified on the commu- shown on a Yield Plan nity-wide Map of Potential (Figure 6). (In unsewered Conssrvation Lands and areas officials should then performs a detailed require a 10 percent sample I site analysis in order to of the most questionable precisely locate features to lots-which they would be conserved. The devel- select-to be tested for I oper first identifies all the septic suitability. Any lots constrained lands (wet, that fail would be deducted floodprone, and steep), and the applicant would 1 called Primary Conservation have to perform a second Areas (Figure 13). He then 10 percent sample, etc.) identifies Secondary Conser- Step Three simply 1 vation Areas (Figure 14) involves “connecting the which comprise notewor- dots” with streets and informal trails (Figure 17), thy features of the property Figure I4 STEP ONE, Port TWO that are typically unpro- while Step Four consists Identifying Secondary Conservation Areas I of drawing in the lot lines tected under current codes: Typically unprotected under local codes. these special features constitute a mature woodlands, green- (Figure 18). significant asset to the property value and neighborhood character. Second- ways and trails, river and This approach reverses ary conservation areas are the most vulnerable to change, but can easily be retained by following this simple four-step process. I stream corridors, prime the sequence of steps in farmland, hedgerows and laying out conventional I subdivisions, where the 1 I Novcmbtrr 1997 Growing Greener I I I I I 1 Figure I5 STEP ONE, Part Three Figure 16 STEP TWO Potential Development Areas Locating House Sites for Options I, 2. and 5 I I I I I I Figure 17 STEP THREE Figure 18 STEP FOUR Aligning Streets and Trails Drawing in the Lot Lines I I I8 Nwonbcr 1997 I Growing Greener I street system is the first open space as a precondi- landowner or developer ment on it. Such easements thing to be identified, tion for achieving full wants it to be. In the vast run with the chain of title, I followed by lot lines density, officials can majority of situations, in perpetuity, and specify fanning out to encompass effectively encourage rnun ic i pal i ties themselves the various conservation every square foot of ground conservation subdivision have no desire to own and uses that may occur on the into houselots. When design. The protected land manage such conservation property. These restrictions I municipalities require in each new subdivision land, which they generally are separate from zoning nothing more than would then become build- feel should be a neighbor- ordinances and continue in “houselots and streets,” ing blocks that add new hood responsibility. In force even if legal densities I that is all they receive. But acreage to community-wide cases where local officials rise in future years. Ease- by setting community networks of interconnected wish to provide township ments are typically held by standards higher and open space each time a recreational facilities (such land trusts and units of I requiring 50 to 70 percent property is developed. as ballfields or trails) government. Since politi- within conservation cal leadership can change subdivisions, the munici- over time, land trusts are I pality must negotiate with the most reliable holder of Frequently Asked Questions the developer for the easements, as their mission purchase of that land on a never varies. Deed restric- About Conservation “willing sellerlwilling tions and covenants are, by I buyer” basis. To facilitate comparison, not as effec- Subdivision Design such negotiations, conser- tive as easements, and are vation zoning ordinances not recommended for this I Does this ers and developers to can be written to include purpose. Easements can be achieve full density under conserqlation-bused density incentives to modified only within the the municipality’s current encourage developers to spirit of the original zoning-and even to ~Iapproach involve designate specific parts of agreement, and only if the increase that density their conservation land for co-holders agree. In a ‘(taking”? significantly-through public ownership or for practice, while a proposal several different “as-of- People who do not public access and use. to erect another house or a iINo. right” options. Of the five understand this A legal analysis of the country club building on fully options permitted under conservation-based ap- Growing Greener workbook, the open space would conservation zoning, three proach to subdivision by Harrisburg land use typically be denied, permis- I provide for either full or design may mistakenly attorney Charles E. Zaleski, sion to create a small enhanced densities. The Esq., is reprinted on the ballfield or a single tennis believe that it constitutes other two options offer the “a taking of land without last page of this booklet. court in a corner of a large developer the choice to I compensation.” This conservation meadow or lower densities and in- misunderstanding may stem former field might well be crease lot sizes. Although How can a from the fact that conser- granted. conservation :oning I vation subdivisions, as community ensure precludes full-density described in this booklet, layouts that do not con- permanent What are the involve either large per- serve open space, this is centages undivided open ownership, I of legal because there is no protection for space or lower overall constitutional “right to conservation Zands? maintenance, tax building densities. sprawl.” There are two reasons and liability issues? I Second, no land is taken The most effective way to why this approach does not for public use. None of the ensure that conservation Among the most com- constitute a “taking.” land which is required to land in a new subdivision monly expressed concerns First, no density is taken I be designated for conserva- will remain undeveloped about subdivisions which away. Conservation zoning tion purposes becomes forever is to place a perma- conserve open space are is fundamentally fair public (or even publicly nent conservation ease-. questions about who will because it allows landown- accessible) unless the 9 Novonkr 1997 Growing Greener I own and maintain the (H0.4~).A few basic within new developments corridor owned by either a Conservation land, and who ground rules encourage a and elsewhere in the land trust or by the munici- I will be responsible for the good performance record. community, to ensure that pality. potential liability and First, membership must be all restrictions are ob- payment of property taxes. automatic, a precondition served. To cover their costs Maintenance Issues. The short answer is that of property purchase in the in maintaining land they Local officials should I whoever owns the conser- development. Second, own or in monitoring land require conservation area vation Land is responsible zoning should require that they hold easements on, management plans to be for all of the above. But bylaws give such associa- land trusts typically require submitted and approved I who owns this land? tions the legal right to some endowment funding. prior to granting final place liens on properties of When conservation zoning subdivision approval. In Ownership Choices. members who fail to pay offers a density bonus, Lower Merion Township, I There are basically four their dues. Third, facilities developers can donate the Montgomery County, the options, which may be should be minimal (ball proceeds from the addi- community’s “model” combined within the same fields and trails rather than tional "endowment !ots” to managehefir plan is subdivision where that clubhouses and swimming such trusts for maintenance typically adopted by I makes the most sense. pools) to keep annual dues or monitoring. reference by each subdivi- sion applicant. That Individual Landowner low. And fourth, detailed Municipality or Ocher maintenance plans for Public Agency document identifies a I At its simplest level, the conservation areas should dozen different kinds of original landowner (a be required by the munici- In special situations a local conservation areas (from farmer, for example) can pality as a condition of government might desire to woodlands and pastures to retain ownership to as approval. The municipality own part of the conserva- ballfields and abandoned much as 80 percent of the has enforcement rights and tion land within a new farmland that is reforest- conservation land to keep may place a lien on the subdivision, such as when ing) and describes recom- I it in the family. (At least property should the HOA that land has been identi- . mended management 20 percent of the open fail to perform their fied in a municipal open practices for each one. space should be reserved obligations to maintain the space plan as a good Farmland is typically leased for common neighborhood conservation land. location for a neighbor- by H0.b and land trusts to I use by subdivision resi- hood park or for a link in a local farmers, who often Land Trusts dents.) That landowner community trail network. , agree to modify some of can also pass this property Although homeowners’ Developers can be encour- their agricultural practices I on to sons or daughters, or associations are generally aged to sell or donate sell it to other individual the most logical recipients certain acreage to munici- landowners, with perma- of conservation land within palities through additional I nent conservation ease- subdivisions, occasionally density incentives, al- ments running with the situations arise where such though the final decision land and protecting it from ownership most appropri- would remain the I development under future ately resides with a land developer’s. owners. The open space trust (such as when a Combinations ofthz Above should not, however, be particularly rare or signifi- As illustrated in Figure 19, divided among all of the cant natural area is in- the conservation land I individual subdivision lots volved). Land trusts are within new subdivisions as land management and private, charitable groups could involve multiple access difficulties are likely whose principal purpose is ownerships, including (1) I to arise. to protect land under its ‘Inon-common’’open space stewardship from inappro- Homtzowntzrs’ Associations such as cropland retained priate change. Their most Figure I9 by the original farmer, (2) Various private and public entities I Most conservation land common role is to hold common open space such can own different Dam of rhe Open wichin subdivisions is easements or fer simple space wichin con&ation subdivi- as ballfields owned an owned and managed by title on conservation lands by sions, as illustrated above. I homeowners’ associations HOh, and (3) a trail I 10 Xocembcr 199; I Growing Greener to minimire impacts on oped land from liability for Utilizing the best soils. into the conservation land. nearby residents. Although negligence if the land- Conservation design These filter beds can be ballfields and village greens owner does not charge a fee requires the most suitable located under playing Irequire weekly mowing, to recreational users. A soils on the property to be fields, or conservation conservation meadows tree root or rock outcrop- identified at the outset, meadows in the same way typically need only annual ping along a trail that trips enabling houselots to be they typically occupy Imowing. Woodlands a hiker will not constitute arranged to take the best positions under suburban generally require the least landowner negligence. To advantage of them. If one lawns. (If mound systems maintenance: trimming be sued successfully in end of a property has are required due to rnar- Ibushes along walking trails, Pennsylvania, landowners deeper, better drained soils, ginal soil conditions, they and removing invasive must be found to have it makes more sense to site are best located in passive vines around the outer “willfully or maliciously the homes in that part of use areas such as conserva- Iedges where greater sun- failed to guard against a the property rather than to tion meadows where the light penetration favors dangerous condition.” This spread them out, with some grass is cut only once a is a much more difficult lots located entirely on year. Such mounds should case for plaintiffs to make. mediocre soils that barely also be required to be Even so, to cover them- manage to meet minimal contoured with gently tax assessments on conser- selves against such situa- standards for septic ap- sloping sides to blend into vation subdivisions should tions, owners of proval. the surrounding landscape Inot differ, in total, from conservation lands rou- wherever possible.) those on conventional tinely purchase liability Locating individual Although maintenance developments. This is insurance policies similar systems within the open and repair of these septic Ibecause the same number to those that most space. Conventional systems remains the of houses and acres of land homeowners maintain. wisdom also holds that responsibility of individual are involved in both cases when lots become smaller, lot owners, it is recom- I(except when part of the How can omsite central water or sewage mended that HOAs be open space is owned by a disposal is required. That authorized to pump indi- public entity, which is sewage disposal view overlooks the practi- vidual septic tanks on a uncommon). Although the cal alternative of locating open space in conservation work with individual wells and/or subdivisions is taxed low conservation individual septic systems because easements prevent within the permanent open I it from being developed, subdivisions? space adjacent to the more compact lots typical of the rate is similar to that The conventional view is conservation subdivisions, applied to land in conven- that thesmaller lots in as shown in Figure 20. Itional subdivisions where conservation subdivisions There is no engineering the larger houselots are not make them more difficult enough to be further reason to require that big to develop in areas without septic filter beds must be Isubdivided. (For example, sewers. However, the located within each the undeveloped back half reverse is true. The flexibil- of a one-acre lot in a one- houselot. However, it is ity inherent in the design essential that the final Iacre zoning district is of conservation subdivi- approved subdivision plan subject to minimal taxation sions makes them superior clearly indicate which parts because it has no further to conventional layouts in of the undivided open Idevelopment value.) their ability to provide for space are designated for Figure 20 adequate sewage disposal. A practical alternative to cend septic disposal, with each Liability Questions. The Here are two examples: water or sewage disposal facilities Pennsylvania Recreation lot’s disposal area graphi- are individually-owned wells and/or I cally indicated through septic systems located within con- Use of Land and Water Act servation areas. in places specificah dotted lines extending out Iprotects owners of undevel- designated for them on the final plan. 11 INw& 1997 Growing Gr< 1 regular basis (every three or s to rmw a te r manage men t How do residential take [he opposite view, four years) to ensure that facilities and land under fearing that these homes the accumulated sludge high-tension power lines. values in will be smaller and less I never rises to a level where expensive than their own it can flow into and clog Open Space Pre- conservation because of the more the filter beds. This inex- Determined to Form stibdivisions compact lot sizes offered in pensive, preventive main- Community-wide conservation subdivisions. tenance greatly extends the Conservation Network. compare to Both concerns are life of filter beds. Although clustering has at conventional understandable but they best typically produced a miss the mark. Developers How does this few small “green islands” stibdivisions? will build what the market here and there in any is seeking at any given conservation municipality, conservation Another concern of many time, and they often base zoning can protect blocks people is that homes in their decision about selling approach differ and corridors of permanent conservation subdivisions price on the character of from “clustering”? open space. These areas will differ in value fiGm surrounding neighborhoods can be pre-identified on a those in the rest of the and the amount they must The Growing Greener comprehensive plan Map of community. Some believe pa): for the land. conservation approach Potzntial Conservation Lands that because so much land In conservation subdivi- described here differs so that each new develop- is set aside as open space, sions with substantial open dramatically from the kind ment will add to-rather the homes in a conserva- sFase, there is little or no of “clustering” that has than subtract from-the tion subdivision will be correlation between lot size occurred in many commu- community’s open space prohibitively priced and and price. These develop- i nities over the past several acreage. the municipality will ments have sometimes decades. The principal become a series of elitist been described as “g0If enclaves. Other people points of difference are as Eliminates the Standard I follows: Practice of Full-Density with No Open Space. Higher Percentage and Under this new system, full I Quality of Open Space. density is achievable for In contrast with typical layouts in which 50 per- cluster codes, conservation cent or more of the uncon- zoning establishes higher strained land is conserved standards for both the as permanent, undivided quantity and quality of open spate. By contrast, open space that is to be cluster zoning provisions preserved. Under conserva- are typically only optional tion zoning, 50 to 70 alternatives within ordi- percent of the uncon- nances that permit full strained land is perma- density, by right, for nently set aside. This standard “cookie-cutter” compares with cluster designs with no open space. I provisions that frequently Simply put, the differ- require only 25 to 30 of the ences between clustering gross land area be con- and conservation zoning I served. That minimal open are like the differences space often includes all of between a Model T and a the most unusable land as Taurus. Figure 21 I open space, and sometimes This house design fits comfortably on lots 45 to 50 feet wide, demonstrating also includes undesirable, that homes with 2.400 sq. k of floorspace and a two-car g3n~ec3n be buik within the village-scale loti featured in the “Option 5” zoning AternaUve- left-over areas such as (Courtesy of Hovnanian Homes, Fox Heath subdivision. Perkiomen Town- ship. Montgomery County.) I Growing Greener I 11 I I 1 Figure 22 Developers who wish to build larger homes will find this example interesting. Although it contains nearly 3,000 sq. k and features an atuactive side-loaded garage, it fits onto lots just 100 feet wide. This has been achieved by positioningthe homes off-center, with 30 feet of side yard for the driveway and five feet I oi yard on the opposite side. This ensures 35 feet spacing beween homes. (Courtesy of Realen Homer. Ambier) course communities market homes in conserva- involving density shifts rights or fee title with without the golf course,” tion subdivisions by among contiguous parcels. county, state or federal I underscoring the idea that emphasizing the open Other techniques can be grant money, and transfer- a house on a small lot with space. Rather than describ- effective, but their poten- ring development rights to a great view is frequently ing a house on a half-acre tial for influencing the “big certain “receiving areas” I worth as much or more lot as such, the product is picture” is limited. The with increased density. than the same house on a described as a house with Growing Greener approach However, until such time larger lot which is boxed in 20 and one-half acres, the offers the greatest potential as more public money I on all sides by other larger figure reflecting the because it: becomes available to help houses. area of conservation land does not require public with such purchases, and It is a well-established that has been protected in expenditure, until the Transfer of I fact of real estate that the development. When does not depend upon Development Rights people pay more for park- that conservation area landowner charity, mechanism becomes more operational at the munici- like settings, which offset abuts other similar land, as does not involve compli- pal level, most parcels of their tendency to pay less in the township-wide open cated regulations for 1 land in any given commu- for smaller lots. Successful space network, a further shifting rights to other nity will probably eventu- developers know how to marketing advantage exists. parcels, and ally be developed. In that I does not depend upon situation, coupling the the cooperation of two conservation subdivision Relationship of the Growing or more adjoining design approach with I landowners to make it multi-optioned conserva- Greener Approach to Other work. tion zoning offers commu- Of course, municipalities nities the most practical, I Planni& Techniques should continue their doable way of protecting efforts to preserve special large acreages of land in a Successful communities “toolbox” of techniques properties in their entirety methodical and coordi- employ a wide array of include the purchase of whenever possible, such as nated manner. I conservation planning development rights; by working with landown- techniques simultaneously, donations of sales to ers interested in donating over an extended period of conservancies; the transfer easements or fee title to a I time. Complementary cools of development rights; and local conservation group, which a community should “landowner compacts” purchasing development 1 consider adding to its LJ Ncvrmbtr 1997 I Growing Greener I AmendixAI I Selected Examples of Conservation Subdivisions in Pennsylvania he two examples shown here demonstrate how conservation design principles can be used 1 to protect different kinds of resources. In Garnet Ouks, a woodland wildlife preserve was Tset aside by the developer, who also constructed extensive walking trails. A well-equipped I tot lot and an informal picnic grove provide additional amenities to the residents. At Farmview, 137 acres of productive farmland were permanently protected, in addition to most of the wood- I lands. This subdivision prompted the township to revise its conventional zoning so that the developer’s creative design could be approved. Since that time over 500 acres of prime farmland I has been preserved in this community through conservation subdivision design representing a $3.5 million conservation achievement (at an average land value of $7,000) and these figures continue to grow as further subdivisions are designed. The potential for replicating this and achieving I similar results throughout the Commonwealth is enormous. I Garnet Oaks Foulk Rod, Bethel Tomhip, Delaware County 1 Developer: Realen Homes, Ambler Development Period: 1993-94 I Just over half of this 58-acre site has been conserved as permanent I privately-owned open space through the simple expedient of reducing lot 1 sizes to the 10,000-12,000 sq. ft. range (approxi- mately 1/4 acre). The developer reports that I these lot sizes did not hinder sales because about two-thirds of the lots I directly abut the densely wooded open space, which gives them the feel and I privacy of larger lots. In fact, the evidence indi- cates that the open space I definitely enhanced sales in two ways: increased I absorption rates and higher I I Growing Greener I prices (through~. premiums homebuyers are consider- land trail which winds its scribes the flora, fauna, ;dried to the prices of lots ably more discerning than way through the 24-acre environmental areas, and which abut the conserva- they were 10 and 2L7 years conservation area, con- historic features along the Ition areas). ago, and now look for necting a well-equipped trail. The guide also The locations of these extra amenities not.only playground and a quiet explains the developer’s conservation areas were in the houses but also in picnic grove to the street creative use of low-lying Icarefully selected after a the neighborhood setting. system in three locations. woods as a temporary comprehensive analysis of This knowledge led Realen Where the trail traverses detention area for stom- the site’s natural and to take special measures areas of wet soils it is water runoff, a naturalistic historic features had been to protect trees on indi- elevated on a low wooden design that helped avoid a Iconducted. Those second- vidual houselots and with- boardwalk. This trail, more conventional ap- ary features that were in the street right-of-way. which was cleared with proach in which many trees identified for preservation Their approach included assistance from a local Boy within the preserve would Iincluded a line of mature collaborating with the Scout Troop, features have been removed to sycamore trees along an Morris Arboretum in numerous small signs provide for a convention- existing farm lane, a stone preparing a training identifying the common ally engineered basin. Iwall and springhouse, and manual for subcontractors and botanical names of the Realen’s sales staff reported several areas of healthy and conducting training various plants and trees that prospective buyers ,deciduous upland woods, sessions in tree conserva- along the trail. Realen’s who picked up a copy of in addition to the site’s tion practices, attendance staff also designed and the trail brochure and delineated wetlands. Based at which was required of all produced an attractive ventured out onto the trail on information received subcon tractors. eight-page trail brochure typically decided to make from post-sales interviews The centerpiece of that illustrates and de- their home purchase in in its previous develop- Garnet Oaks’ open space is Garnet Oaks. Iments, Realen’s staff the near mile-long wood- learned that today’s Farmview Woodside Road and Dolington Road, Lower Makefield Township, Buck, County Developer: Realen Homes, Ambler Development Period: 1990-96 Located on a 418-acre site, preserved in addition to ments that encourage habitat and wildlife travel IFarmview is a 322-lot nearly a11 of the wooded adaption of traditional corridors. These areas also “density-neutral” subdivi- areas. farming practices to offer potential for an sion whose layout was The 145 acres of farm- minimize impacts on the informal neighborhood esigned to conserve 213 land that have been saved residents, whose yards are trail system in future years. acres of land (51 percent of were donated by the separated from their (The developer’s offer to the property), including developer to the Lower operations by a 75-foot construct such trails was 145 acres of cropland and Makefield Farmland deep hedgerow area thickly declined by the supervisors, I68 acres of mature woods. Preservation Corporation, planted with native specie citing liability concerns, While 59 percent of the a local conservation trees and shrubs. despite the fact that other original farmland was organization whose mem- Realen Homes also townships in the region Ineeded for development, bers include local farmers, donated the 68 acres of actively encourage such 41 percent categorized as township residents and an woodland to the township trails in new subdivisions prime agricultural and elected official liaison. to support local conserva- and also on township Ifarmland of statewide This cropland is leased to tion efforts in creating an conservation lands.) importance was able to be farmers in the community extended network of forest I through multi-year agree- 15 INw& 1997 Crowing Greener Had it not been for the percent of a property would convince them that chis developer’s initiative and be conserved. These approach was sound. continued interest, this regulations target the most Contributing to the I subdivision would have productive soils as those project’s benefits to both been developed into the which should be “designed the developer and the same number of standard- around.” township were reduced I sized one-acre lots, which Although other develop- infrastructure costs (for was the only option ers were at first skeptical of streets, water, and sewer permitted under the Realen’s proposal to build lines). Premiums added to township’s zoning ordi- large homes (2,600-3,700 “view lots” abutting the I nance in 1986 when sq. ft.) on lots which were protected fields or woods Realen purchased the typically less than a half an also contributed to the property. After 18 months acre in a marketplace project’s profitability. of discussing the pros and consisting primarily of one cons of allowing smaller acre zoning, che high lots in exchange for serious absorption rate helped land conservation benefits, the supervisors adopted new zoning provisions I permitting such layouts specifically to preserve I farmland when at least 51 I I I I' Growing Greener I I I oaoba 16. 1997 I I I I I I I I I I I I I Charla E. Zalcski CWjr I I I I I I ‘I APPENDIX B I HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN REPORT I I I I I I I I I I I I I I HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN Greenfield Township believes that it makes good economic sense to capitalize on existing I investments in buildings and infrastructure, and therefore preserving open space. Most historic resources are protected under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968 as amended) and the Historic District Act (Act 167). The Township I must work to see that preservation interests are balanced with the rights of individual property owners. The following are goals to assist in ensuring that balance: I 1. Work with the Governor’s office, the Legislature, the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC) and preservation advocacy groups to tie state fbnding for transportation and other infrastructure improvements to local planning and zoning I requirements that guide development in existing areas and encourage compact new development. I 2. Work with federal and state agencies to integrate preservation into economic revitalization, affordable housing, transportation and other initiatives, as mandated by I the National Historic Preservation Act and the Pennsylvania History Code. 3. Work with local Chambers of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PHMC, the Pennsylvania Department of I Community and Economic Development, and others to promote the role of historic preservation in tourism throughout the county. I 4. Advocate for a sustainable source of funding at the state level for bricks-and-mortar preservation projects. I 5. Support state and federal legislation to provide incentives and tax relief for homeowners and businesses that restore historic properties. These incentives will I stimulate revitalization of declining neighborhoods and central business districts and strengthen the local tax base. I 6. Maximize the use of existing programs such as Keystone Opportunities Zone and Community Development Block Grants to revitalize historic communities. I I HISTORIC PRESERVATION TOOLS There are two forms of state enabling legislation (the Historic District Act and the Municipalities Planning Code) that can authorize a local government to protect historic I resources. I B- 1 I I I Historic Districts: I One of the first steps that must be taken before considering either designation on the National Register of Historic Places and/or protection of a historic district by ordinance is to substantiate the extent to which historic and architectural structures exist within the I municipality by conducting a survey. This survey will inform and educate the public as to the social and monetary value of the community’s historic character. I The next step is to decide how much of the historic area the municipality would like to preserve, and have it certified by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. I Once this area has been determined, a Historic District Ordinance must be passed. This ordinance should include, but not be limited to the following: 0 Reference to the enabling legislation I Purpose of the ordinance Definitions * Verba! boundarj description of the Histcric Eistrict ada refereme to F. I official map 0 Criteria for the designation of historic districts and landmarks Creation of a Historical Architectural Review Board (HAM) I Describe duties, responsibilities and powers of the HARB 0 Explain actions that are reviewable by the HARB I 0 Guidelines and criteria by which recommendations are made 0 Demolition by Neglect 0 Definition of unreasonable economic hardship I 0 Certificate of appropriateness application review 0 State fines and penalties for ordinance violations I A historic district ordinance should be referenced in a municipality’s zoning ordinance. Often zoning regulations require setbacks and parking capacity appropriate for a suburban setting which are incompatible with the community’s historic district and I conflict with the preservation of historic character. If a municipality does not have a zoning ordinance, a Historic District may still be created by adopting a “special purpose” I historic district ordinance. Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code I The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), provides for both the “preservation of the natural, scenic, and historic values, aquifers and floodplain” as well as the regulation of “places having unique historical, architectural or patriotic interest or I value” [Section 604( 1) and 605(2) respectively]. Citing these Sections is effective when a municipality has an individual historic landmark, but lacks a concentration of structures 1 for a district. Under the MPC, a historical commission can be appointed by the governing body to I review and advise on proposed activities affecting historic resources. A historic I B-2 I c~mmission'sresponsibilities go beyond reviewing and advising the governing body, zoning hearing board, or planning commission. The duties may also include the establishment and implementation of a historic preservation plan (plan creation, surveys, education, seminars and publications). Conservation District The MPC also authorizes a conservation district designation. A conservation district may be an alternative approach to maintaining the economic and social viability of older neighborhoods and their overall character and identity, without the emphasis placed on preserving the historic architectural detail of buildings. The conservation district is often used to lessen the perceived economic hardships and conformity to regulations associated with historic preservation. Purposes for establishing a conservation district may include: 0 Protect and stabilize property values 0 Protect desirable and unique physical features of the neighborhoods 0 Prevent blighting 0 Provide enhancement of an area 0 Provide economic vitality 0 Provide a focus for capital improvements A conservation district identifies a neighborhood for a "treat sensitively" planning and development approach. This will retain the general character defining features of the area as a whole. Defining features may include setbacks, stoops, saw-toothed gable roofs, etc. Other Preservation Tools Other tools for historic preservation include easements and deed covenants, along with acquisition and rehabilitation of historic structures. The historic district has the most advantages for a municipality. Zoning ordinances emphasize use of a property and building, while the historic district ordinances regulate only the architectural changes to the exterior of buildings. The regulation of the historic district lies at the local level, not with the state or federal government. This grass roots initiative demonstrates the community's commitment to protecting areas of historic character. B-3 I I I I m I APPENDIX C I AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION PLAN REPORT I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I PRIME AGRICULTURAL LANDS PRESERVATION Introduction: I One of the most important resources for any region is agricultural land. As a mainstay of a region’s economy, the removal of land from agricultural production increases the dependence on imported food, generally increases the extent of the constructed I environment, might have severe impacts on natural occurrences such as flooding and air quality, and may involve a significant shift in the economic balance of the region. In rural areas where agriculture is an important and long-term segment of the economy and I a significant factor in how residents identify with their community, the preservation of agricultural lands, especially prime agricultural lands, is and should be a top priority. I As the population of Pennsylvania, and Erie County, increases, the amount of developed land will increase. Between 1969 and 1997, farmland in Pennsylvania decreased from 8,900,767 acres to 7,167,906 acres while the population increased from 1 1,766,412 to I 12,281,054 over a comparable period (1970 to 2000). In Erie County, farmland decreased from 217,866 acres to 167,634 acres while the population increased from 263,654 to 280,843. This means that while the population of Erie County increased I 6.5%, the County’s area in agricultural production decreased 23%, and this includes a significant broadening of the definition of “farmland” during that period. It is well documented that the central cities of the Northeastern United States, including the City of E Erie, are generally growing very slowly or experiencing a decrease in population, and while not every acre of farmland that left agricultural production was converted to residential use, if fewer people are living in the central cities while.the population as a I whole is rising, it is not incorrect to assume that some of this increased population is residing in areas that were formerly farmland. I It is neither possible nor desirable to prevent all new development from occumng, nor can it be restricted from locating on agricultural lands by mere decree. Unfortunately, land that is considered “prime agricultural land” is also among the most desirable for new I development. Prime agricultural land is often the most level and has the best drainage, making it extremely attractive for residential development, especially in areas not served by public utilities. Farming, while an important sector of the economy, involves hard ~I work in a capital-intensive ‘business, with a narrow profit margin and no set benefits package. When a commercial developer offers an active farmer a large sum of money for his land, the temptation to “cash in” and sell all or part of the farm can be strong, no I matter how much the farmer might desire to continue his operation. This is especially true in the case of older farmers who do not have children or other farmers ready and ‘I willing to assume the farming operation. ’ So if some amount of development is inevitable and the incentives for farmers to sell I their land are great, how can prime agricultural lands be preserved? There are several tools available in Pennsylvania to preserve and protect prime farmlands, while at the same time allowing for growth and development to occur. Used in concert by a I determined municipality, these tools can preserve the agricultural lands and economy and 1 I maintain the rural nature of the community that is held in such high regard, all while accommodating an amount of growth and development that is both appropriate and desirable. I Agriculture in Erie County: Agriculture has been and remains an important sector of the economy of Erie County. I The agricultural sector in Erie County generated nearly $69 million in revenues in 1997, which ranked twelfth among all Pennsylvania counties. Erie County is a top-five producer of many berries and hits, including cherries, blueberries, and strawberries, and I is the Commonwealth’s leading producer of both grapes and potatoes. Agriculture in Erie County can be divided into two distinct regions: the Lake Plain and I the Uplands. The Lake Plain stretches the length of Erie County along Lake Erie, and is characterized by flatter topography and milder temperatures than the Uplands. This microclimate, caused by the moderating effect of the lake, allows fruits and vegetables to I be grown in this region, particularly grapes. Although grapes are grown all along the Lake Plain, they are especially concentrated in North East and Harborcreek Townships, in the northeastern corner of the County. Here, topography and soil quality combine to I allow a robust viniculture industry, raising wine, juice, and table grapes and producing wines and juices. The Uplands comprise the remainder of Erie County, and are characterized by hillier terrain and less moderate weather, particularly during the winter. II More standard crop farms, such as those that grow corn and grains, are located here, as are the remaining Erie County dairy and beef cattle farms. Potatoes are another significant crop, particularly in the Le Boeuf Creek bottomlands in Le Boeuf and Waterford Townships, in the south-central areas of the County. Agricultural Preservation Techniques. There are five tools for the preservation of agricultural lands that are available in Pennsylvania. They are implementation of Act 43 of 198 1 (the Agricultural Security Area Act) and Act 3 19 of 1974 (the Clean and Green Act), the purchase or donation of development rights, comprehensive planning, agricultural preservation zoning, and the transfer of development rights (as permitted in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended). These tools have been implemented to varying degrees in Erie County. Agricultural Security Areas and Clean and Green: Pennsylvania Acts 43 of 198 1 and 3 19 of 1974 (the Agricultural Security Area Act and the Clean and Green Act, respectively) have been passed specifically to relieve certain burdens from the agricultural community. The Agricultural Security Area Act allows landowners to establish an Agricultural Security Area (ASA) within one or more municipalities, within which normal agricultural activities are exempt from local nuisance ordinances (such as those that involve noise, dust, or odors), limitations are placed on land condemnation and eminent domain, and hazardous waste treatment or storage facilities are not permitted. An ASA must consist of 250 acres or more, owned by one or more persons, and participating properties must be I engaged in the production of crops, livestock, or livestock products. Landowners can enroll their properties in an ASA at any time, and the municipality must review its ASA every seven years, removing parcels which have shifted out of agricultural use. A property owner may remove his property at any time. Location in an approved ASA is 1c one requirement for the sale of development rights. The Clean and Green Act provides for property tax relief for agricultural and agricultural I and forest reserve lands by assessing enrolled property on the basis of its current use value, not at its market value. The market value is based on the “highest and best use” of the land. Often, this highest and best use is single-family residential development, and I the difference between the agricultural and non-agricultural assessments can be substantial; this tax relief may help the farmer remain in business. I Over 4,000 Erie County parcels, comprising almost 150,000 acres, have been enrolled in the Clean and Green program, representing active farms, forested land, and other open space. Seventeen municipalities, including 16 rural townships and one rural borough, I have established ASAs containing more than 66,500 acres (See Map 1). Purchase or Donation of Development Rights: In Pennsylvania, a landowner may 1 separate the development rights to a parcel of land from the land itself, making it possible for those development rights to be sold, transferred, or donated to another party. The Pennsylvania Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements (PACE) Program has I been designed to encourage landowners to make a long-term commitment to agriculture by offering them financial incentives and security of land use; to protect normal farming operations in agricultural security areas from non-farmland uses that may render farming I impractical; to protect farming operations from complaints of public nuisance against normal farming operations; to assure conservation of viable agricultural lands in order to protect the agricultural economy; to provide compensation to landowners in. exchange for I their relinquishment of the right to develop their property; and to maximize agricultural easement purchase funds and protect the investment of taxpayers in agricultural I conservation easements. In the sale or donation of development rights, the landowner permanently relinquishes the 1 right to develop his property in exchange for a cash payment or a receipt of charitable contribution, which can then be used as a tax deduction. The amount of the payment or deduction is based on the difference between the value of the land as agricultural land I and the market value of the land. An agricultural conservation easement is then placed over the entire property, preventing development from occumng. Generally, only private land trusts receive donated easements while governmental agencies (and some private trusts) pay. The Erie County Agricultural Land Preservation Board participates in the PACE Program, using State, County, Federal and private funds to purchase the development rights to Erie County farms. As of December 31, 2002, the Board has acquired agricultural conservation easements on 25 farms totaling almost 2,900 acres and is I working to purchase the development rights to five others (See Map 2). Currently, there I are no private efforts to acquire development rights. Comprehensive Planning: The basic purpose of comprehensive planning is to designate I and separate areas most appropriate for varying types of development, be it residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural. Typically, any new development would be targeted to areas that are currently served by public utilities, or areas to which public I utility extensions are projected. Areas that are to remain rural and agricultural are generally not targeted for the extension of public utilities, nor are they targeted for development. The Municipalities Planning Code then allows a municipality to adopt the I appropriate ordinances (such as zoning, subdivision and land development, and official map ordinances) for implementing the comprehensive plan. I In Erie County, all but one municipality have adopted comprehensive plans, and have designated areas to receive development. All of the rural townships, some rural boroughs, and some townships that could be considered suburban have also used their I comprehensive plans to designate areas suitable for agriculture and rural development. Furthermore, all but three municipalities (Conneaut and Elk Creek Townships, and Platea Borough) have adopted municipal zoning ordinances to implement their comprehensive 1 plans. In those zoning districts designated as agricultural, whether they are designated “Agricultural,” “Agrarian,” “Rural,” or something similar, not only are the permitted uses generally restricted to those compatible with agriculture but lot sizes are generally I set so that the creation of large, dense residential subdivisions is discouraged. Agricultural Preservation Zoning: The basic purpose of agricultural preservation zoning I (APZ) is to prohibit uses incompatible with agriculture and to place strict limitations on the amount of residential development that may occur in these areas. Such restrictions are usually in the form of area-based allowances, which limit the number of allowable I new dwellings depending on the size of the parent tract. This number may be based on a fixed ratio (i.e. one dwelling per 25 acres), a sliding scale (i.e. smaller parcels that are I less amenable to large-scale farming are allowed a greater density of new lots), or a fixed percentage of the parent tract. Further provisions for APZ may include requiring new dwellings to be on the least agriculturally productive land, maximum lot sizes for new 1 residential lots, bonus densities for clustering new lots, minimum parent tract size, and subdivision restrictions if the parent tract consists entirely of prime agricultural soils. Each method has both advantages and disadvantages; each method works to protect I agriculture and agricultural land but also tends to restrict the speculative value of the land. I To date in Erie County, APZ has been considered by only one municipality (North East Township), which did not adopt the provisions. I Transferable Development Rights: In a transfer of development rights (TDR), it is possible to sever the rights to develop a tract from the tract itself, then sell these rights to a second party, who may then in turn apply these development rights to another parcel. I However, this procedure requires a certain structure. As provided by the Municipalities 1 I I Planning Code, in order to allow TDR a municipality must designate transferring and I receiving districts, where only parcels in former districts may transfer their development rights, and only parcels in the latter districts may have them applied. I Usually, TDR involves dwelling units and residential zones. In a municipality that has established a procedure for the transfer of development rights, the transferring districts are normally agricultural or rural districts, or other districts in which the municipality I wishes to limit the density of residential development. In the same way, receiving districts are normally higher-density districts in which the municipality wishes to increase the density or encourage infill development. When the transfer is completed; the I transferring property has its development potential permanently reduced, since the landowner has transferred the right to develop his property to another parcel. I No Erie County municipalities have yet considered instituting TDR. I Agricultural Preservation Plan: Erie County is fortunate to contain not only one of Pennsylvania's largest cities but also a substantial rural and agricultural population. And just as the urban core provides I products, services, and resources that enhance the lives of rural residents, the rural area does the same to enhance the lives of city and suburban dwellers. Therefore it is in everyone's best interest - urban, suburban, and rural residents alike - to help preserve I agricultural lands and maintain the rural economy. Erie County itself, acting as a facilitator, consultant, and resource clearinghouse, can implement policies of its own, as well as assist the local municipalities in utilizing the tools available to achieve the 1 preservation of agricultural lands. Agricultural Security Areas: One of the simplest actions a municipality can take to I encourage the preservation of agricultural land is to establish an Agricultural Security Area. By doing so, a municipality states that it places importance on the continued 1 existence of agriculture within the community, and is willing to take steps to help maintain it. The County should encourage the expansion of Agricultural Security Areas within the municipalities that have created them, and encourage their establishment in 1 those rural municipalities without th'em. Although being in an ASA places no subdivision or development restrictions upon a parcel, it may be the first step towards the I sale of development rights and the permanent preservation of farmland. A well-done ASA will be more than just a random collection of farm parcels scattered throughout the municipality, however. Agriculture can be most productive and effective ~I in contiguous blocks, without interruption by non-agricultural uses. The County should encourage municipalities to consider the long-range impacts of entering parcels in an ASA, and should discourage municipalities from entering parcels located within areas I targeted for growth or public utilities expansion. If a municipality allows parcels that are located in areas either already served by public utilities or in areas targeted for future development to be enrolled in its ASA, it does a disservice to the agrkultural community. I Farms located in current or future development areas are, by definition, expected to 1 I eventually become surrounded by development. When surrounded by residential, I commercial, or industrial development, such farms will most likely find it difficult to continue operation. If they shut down, it defeats the purpose of enrolling them in the ASA in the first place. The most effective Agricultural Security Areas will be the ones I that take into account any existing or targeted development areas and take the opportunity to minimize conflict between agricultural and non-agricultural uses. I Purchase of Development Rights: The acquisition of an Agricultural Conservation Easement by an organization (whether public or private) can, in effect, assure that the eased parcel has its development potential permanently removed. In Pennsylvania, a I property owner must wait a minimum of 25 years before requesting a status review for a parcel that has had its development rights sold through the PACE program, and any change in the easement requires evidence that the parcel is “incapable of further I agricultural production.” Agricultural Conservation Easements acquired by private organizations may be permanent. The sale of development rights, therefore, is perhaps the most powerful tool available for the preservation of prime agricultural land. As I previously mentioned, the agricultural economy remains most viable when agricultural land exists in blocks. The County should focus its easement purchases in such a manner I that it establishes large, contiguous areas ofpermanently preserved farmland. The County should continue to budget fiscal and staff resources to support these efforts. The PACE program can be an intensive project, requiring hours and dollars that a I municipality, especially a rural municipality, cannot easily afford. Although a Pennsylvania municipality is permitted to establish its own PACE program independent I of a county’s program, it is recognized that few Erie County municipalities have the desire or resources to do so. As such, it is important that the County continue to serve as the agent for the PACE program. I Comprehensive Planning: Comprehensive planning is the only way a community - whether it is a single municipality, a multi-municipal region, or a county as a whole - can I articulate its vision of itself and establish a method for implementing and achieving that vision. If such a vision includes maintaining a rural character and viable agricultural economy, either throughout the community or just in a limited area, the comprehensive I plan should reflect this. A considered and coherent comprehensive plan should be the foundation upon which a municipality’s ordinances and policies are based, in a deliberate I attempt to implement the plan. Although nearly every municipality in Erie County has an adopted comprehensive plan, many are over fifteen years old, and a few were completed nearly thirty years ago. Many 1 of the urban or “urban fringe” municipalities have recent comprehensive plan updates or are developing updates, but many rural municipalities, especially in the southern and southwestern portions of the county, are among those that have the oldest plans. These I plans are based upon thirty-year-old assumptions and attitudes, assumptions and attitudes that might not only have changed since the plan was adopted, but now might be largely discredited. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, amended by Acts 67, 68, I and 127 in 2000, now requires that comprehensive plans be reviewed (in the case of 1 I I cities, boroughs, and townships) and updated (in the case of counties) every ten years. I The County should encourage and assist all municipalities to update their comprehensive plans in a thoughtful and coherent manner. In particular, those rural mtrnicipalities with higher-quality soils and an intact agricultural economy should be encouraged to adopt I comprehensive plans which promote the preservation of farmland. The County should also encourage any municipality that adopts a new comprehensive I plan to update the municipal ordinances. The only sure way for a municipality to implement a comprehensive plan, which presumably reflects the desires and vision of the citizens, is with municipal ordinances. Zoning, subdivision, and land development I ordinances all affect how development occurs in a municipality and they should be revised, updated, or adopted to implement the provisions of the comprehensive plan. I Ordinances can be written in such a way as to allow for both the continuation of agriculture and the introduction of a moderate amount of development. Conservation Subdivision Design is a technique in which, rather than permitting traditional subdivision I design where a parcel is completely subdivided according to the allowable density (i.e., at a density of one dwelling per acre a twenty-acre parcel would be subdivided into twenty lots), the maximum number of lots (twenty) is only allowed if a certain amount of the I original parcel remains permanently undeveloped. Therefore, lots will be smaller but will also abut permanently preserved open space. In the case of a farm, this open space may have a permanent conservation easement place upon it and then be leased or sold to an I active farmer. Conservation Subdivision Design has become a prominent part of Pennsylvania’s “Growing Smarter” initiative, an effort to preserve agricultural land and I open space and to restrain the negative effects of costly over-development. The County should encourage municipalities to examine the Conservation Subdivision Design techniques, especially those municipalities that are revising or adopting their zoning or I subdivision and land development ordinances. Since Conservation Subdivision Design can be an information-intensive program, the County should also work towards developing a County-wide data library that is accessible to municipalities and developers I to help them in the Conservation Design process. Such Conservation Subdivisions zre generally !mated in agriculturally zoned regions. As I such, they would most likely not be served by public sewer and water lines, and it is important that they not be served by such infrastructure. Once public sewer and water service is extended to an area it is extremely difficult to prevent further development, I since the presence of these facilities allows much denser development on a much greater scale. The County should discourage the extension of public sewer and water lines into those areas designated important to agriculture and the local agricultural industry, and I encourage municipalities to reject or eliminate any provisions in their zoning ordinances that would allow for lot-size reduction in agricultural areas with the extension ofpublic utilities. If lot-size reduction with the extension of public utilities is permitted in I agricultural areas, then those regions are, in effect, suburban areas and will eventually be developed as such. I I I I Agricultural Preservation Zoning: By adopting a zoning ordinance a municipality takes a I role in actively determining how and where various land uses will locate. Although a comprehensive plan may designate which areas are best suited for various types of development, it is the zoning ordinance that implements the plan. As previously noted, I many Erie County municipalities have designated areas as “Agricultural” or something similar. These ordinances do not, however, truly limit the amount, of development that may occur in these districts. For example, there are no limits on how many lots might be I subdivided out of a farm, nor on where they might locate (a particular problem in areas with prime soils), nor are there delineated boundaries beyond which public utilities will I not be extended. No municipality in Erie County has yet adopted APZ. Although APZ can be a useful tool, it is recognized that it is not for every municipality; it will be most effective in municipalities that have a strong desire to maintain the I agricultural nature of their community and are willing to adopt powerful measures in order to do so. The adoption of APZ by a municipality may be a controversial subject, since by its very nature it reduces the speculative value of farmland. APZ should not be I considered for adoption by any municipality that will not have the wherewithal to enforce the ordinance. APZ should also not be considered by any municipality in which farming I and agricultural activities are not a significant part of the economy or character. APZ should nevertheless be considered as a viable tool for the preservation of agricultural land by those municipalities that value their rural nature and agricultural I economy. For a municipality truly dedicated to the preservation of its agricultural sector, APZ is one of the most powerful methods available to achieve that end. I Transferable Development Rights: By establishing a TDR procedure, a municipality makes a statement that not only does it have areas in which it wishes to restrict the I density of development, but that it also has areas that it is going to allow, and also encourage, to develop in a more dense pattern. This tool might be especially useful for a municipality that wishes to protect its rural and agricultural areas while not rejecting all I development. Unfortunately for a small or financially disadvactaged municipality, the TDR program I can be records-intensive. A record must be kept of which parcels are in the transfemng districts, which are in the receiving districts, which parcels have previously transferred their development rights and deed restrictions to those parcels, which parcels have 1 previously received and built, and which have received and not built. Much of this information, especially the deed restrictions, will be on record in the County Recorder of Deeds office, but for a single municipality it would be more efficient and useful to have it 1 all collected at a single location, such as the municipal building. A rural municipality may not have the space, the manpower, or both in sufficient amounts to keep effective 1 records of this program. Like agricultural protection zoning, TDR can be an effective tool for maintaining the rural character of a municipality but it is not a tool to be adopted in a casual manner. I Without a firm determination on the part of the municipality to administer it consistently I I and keep accurate records, a TDR program adopted with the best of intentions will not and cannot function properly. Conclusion A number of tools are available in Pennsylvania for the preservation of agricultural land, some of which are more effective than others. By the nature of municipal organization in the Commonwealth, Erie County is limited in what actions it can take within individual municipalities. The County can, however, present techniques to the municipalities for their review and consideration and can encourage the municipalities to take certain courses of action or adopt certain techniques and policies. It should be recognized that not every municipality approached will want to adopt all or any of the techniques presented, and that not every acre of land currently used for farming can or should be preserved. The most effective municipal farmland preservation programs will be the ones into which the municipality has entered voluntarily because it sees the value of the program. Erie County’s role should be that of information clearinghouse, technical advisor, funding source, and facilitator in this process. I I 1 I 1 I I I I I I I I I APPENDIX D 1 NATURAL RESOURCES PLAN REPORT I I 1 I I I I I I W I I I I I NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION Introduction: I Every Erie County community contains environmentally sensitive areas, areas of natural resources that are beneficial aesthetically and ecologically, areas that not only help to define a community’s character but that also help to maintain that character. It is I important that each community is aware of these areas, and acknowledges the positive effects they might have on its well-being. The natural environment and the manner in which it fits together - the floodplains and wetlands of stream valleys, the woodlands and I escarpments of the hillsides, and the aquifers that receive and distribute groundwater - was in place and in effect long before human settlement arrived to alter it. Each community should become aware that the best way to avoid conflict between the natural I and the constructed environment is to develop planning techniques that best integrate the two. They are not polar opposites, and the constructed environment can and should I contain and protect the natural features present on the site. The pressures and demands upon Erie County’s natural resources will only increase in the coming years. As development spreads beyond the traditional urban center into areas I previously thought of as rural, sites that were never before considered viable candidates for development find themselves being considered for new residential, commercial, or industrial development. Without a plan to preserve and protect natural resources in these I areas, a community that prides itself on its natural environment may find itself bereft of these assets in relatively short order, and experiencing problems they had never before I encountered . Environmentally Sensitive Areas. I There are five common environmentally sensitive areas, all of which are associated in some manner with water resources. They include streams and floodplains, wetlands, I aquifers, woodlands, and escarpments. Land use controls are important in the management of these natural areas: poorly regulated development of steep slopes, woodlands, and wetlands can result in the removal of hillside vegetation and the filling of I adjacent marshes; streams become choked with sediment due to increased runoff from the loss of protective vegetative cover and the growing number of impervious surfaces; and increased runoff can result in flooding of streams that are already high due to the I increased sediment in their beds. Moreover, local streams become health hazards because the natural filtering system of the surface waters is destroyed by fill and sedimentation and increased pollution from landfill sites, lawn fertilizers, and faulty I sewage systems. The polluted runoff decreases and degrades the amount of water that the stream adds to groundwater supplies, which in turn can cause some wells to run dry I and others to be threatened with pollution. Few communities experience such disasters simultaneously, but many have or will have similar problems. A community having such problems must then obtain local monies or I appeal for Federal or State assistance to protect itself from floods and replenish and clek I I I its water supply. The treatment is almost always expensive and will not prevent future I problems. Careful land use planning within a watershed in the first place could make remedial measures unnecessary and could save a community from considerable economic and environmental damage. Preventive land use controls can maintain the quality of I existing pristine areas. Remedial action, if accomplished by preventative land use controls, cannot only clean up polluted streams and afford flood protection, but can also I assure that such problems, as they are solved by remedial efforts, will not be repeated. Streams, Floodplains, and Watersheds: A stream is an important part of the hydrological cycle - the path water takes from water vapor suspended in the atmosphere through I precipitation, surface runoff, surface- or groundwater, and back to water vapor through evaporation - and play two parts within it. Obviously, they are the major drainage systems of the Earth’s surface, conducting runoff water and sediments from highlands to I low-lying lands or water bodies. Streams get their water from two sources: rainfall and groundwater. Those that depend mainly on rainfall may occasionally run dry during dry seasons and are called intermittent streams. Those that are supplemented by groundwater I usually run in all seasons and are called perennial streams. Streams are also an important part of the groundwater system. Aquifers may discharge I groundwater into streams from springs or seepage during periods of low flow, and this process may be reversed during the wet season. Thus, streams are important sources of I groundwater recharge and groundwater is an occasional source of supplementary stream flow. Streams and aquifers form an interlocking system of surface and groundwater I resources and the pollution or degradation of one will eventually affect the other. These two roles of streams in the hydrologic cycle make them an integral part of our water resources. Many communities get their water from wells drilled into groundwater 1 reservoirs, most of which are replenished in part by infiltration from streams. Development in the watershed can disturb this natural process. Increased runoff from developed land can clog the natural flow of water into groundwater reserves, and polluted I runoff from upland development or direct discharge into a stream can infiltrate the groundwater, thereby polluting underground water resources as well. I Development in the watershed can also alter the relationship between streams and groundwater by affecting the peak and base flows of a stream, which mark the high and low volumes of flow according to precipitation or melting patterns. An increase in I impervious surfaces, such as roads and buildings, accelerates runoff by releasing precipitation that would otherwise be absorbed by the soil, and the heat from these surfaces makes snow and ice melt faster. Similarly, destruction of vegetation and I wetlands increases the rate of runoff since they can absorb some precipitation or, in the case of woodlands, shade snow and ice, moderating the rate of melting. As a result, precipitation passes too quickly through groundwater channels, increasing the rate of I stream flow and making it irregular: low base flows and high peak flows. Thus, dependent groundwater reservoirs will also fluctuate, depriving a community of a stable I water supply. I I In a natural state, a stream can handle the rate of runoff from any average rainfall. This I does not mean that flooding in an unnatural phenomenon; it occurs regularly to some extent in all streams during periods of heavy precipitation and melting. However, the flooding is seldom catastrophic, thanks to the moderating effects of vegetation, organic I litter, and wetlands. Disturbance of these moderators of runoff can produce unnaturally high and occasionally catastrophic flooding. Thus, an important part of a community's flood control program includes regulation of development in sensitive environmental I areas such as hillsides, woodlands, and wetlands. Streams transport the soils created by weathering or dislodged by running water from the I upland portions of the watershed and deposit them along their banks downstream. The amount of sediment or suspended particles a stream can carry depends in large part upon the rate of flow, and water of high velocity is able to carry more particles than slower I moving water. Thus, rapid runoff is associated with increased erosion and sedimentation. Once the rate of flow decreases, heavier particles such as gravel and sand settle out and are deposited along stream banks and flood plains or in streambeds. In even quieter I water, where a stream enters a lake or marsh or where there are still stretches of a stream, I finer particles such as clay and silt settle out and are deposited. The rate and amount of sedimentation a stream can carry is also determined by the rate of upland erosion, the amount of runoff, and the geometry of the stream itself. Changes in I any of these factors can have far-reaching effects upon the stream. In general, stream geometry - the shape and depth of a watercourse - is determined by rate of flow, sediment load, and the composition of the rocks or soils the stream cuts through. Deep I stream beds have high rates of flow, and the fast moving water, together with the particles it carries, act to scour and clean the stream channel, flushing out sediments and organic matter. Shallower streams with lower rates of flow are more likely to have beds I composed of deposited sediments and cannot so easily flush out sediments and pollutants. Flooding in all streams, especially shallow ones, is an important cleaning process. Thus, making a stream completely safe from flooding by extensive dams and water control may I cause it to become choked with sediment and increased pollutants and debris. The real cause of increased sedimentation lies, of course, in the watershed. Development I of upstream areas can increase runoff and erosion by removing vegetation whose roots, leaves, and litter retard erosion, or by massive construction practices which grade hillsides, remove topsoil, and leave large areas of land bare and vulnerable to erosion during construction. The sediment yield from areas undergoing development may be I' from three to one hundred times as great as that from predominantly rural or natural areas. The most critical problem of sedimentation occurs during the early construction ~I stages when topsoil is stripped and subjected to erosion from running water. The severity of the problem depends upon previous land use, the grade of the slope, the length of the slope, and the type of impervious and pervious cover. For example, forested cover once I removed may release far more sediment than a disturbed agriculhral area. As the degree of slope and its length increases, so does the sediment production potential. Also, certain I soil types are more sensitive to erosion than others. I 1 I Along with loss of shading vegetation as a result of stream bank erosion, impervious I surfaces themselves can also increase the thermal pollution of a stream. Natural soil and vegetative cover moderate the temperature fluctuations of solar radiation while roads, buildings, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces do not, thus increasing temperature I extremes. This phenomenon also increases the rapidity and amount of runoff from melting snow and ice, which occurs more gradually under vegetative cover and on natural ,I soils. Another harmful result of poorly-planned land use on streams and waterways is chemical and organic pollution. Impervious surfaces not only accelerate the amount of runoff, they 11 also produce polluted runoff. Parking lots, streets, and airports can add petroleum products to runoff water, as well as significant amounts of salts and chemicals used to melt snow and ice. Storage areas for fertilizers and chemicals raise the dangers of spills II and leaks, and dumping and landfill sites can contribute even further to polluted runoff. Sewage plants and septic tanks, if they are improperly constructed or placed in highly 'permeable soils, can overflow or leak polluted water directly into runoff channels or 'I indirectly through groundwater channels that may feed a small creek. Heavy applications of plant fertilizers may find their way rapidly into streams as precipitation runs off these '1 areas into gutters or storm sewers. I Wetlands: Wetlands are defined as a transitional area between dry land and open water, 'I distinguished by areas of low topography, poor drainage, and standing water. Due to seasonal and yearly variations in the borders of wetlands, they are sometimes hard to spot. Waterlogged land in the spring may be dry throughout most of the summer and fall, i1 while during years of extensive rainfall wetlands are more extensive than in years of drought. Though it is difficult to produce a universally accepted definition of exactly where wetlands end and other lands begin, wetlands are generally classified by their I vegetation, water type (fresh or saline), and predominant water depth. Wetlands also vary according to climate, with marked differences in vegetation from north to south. I Whatever thejr specific local value, wetlands do have a set of common natural functions that make them valuable resources for society. The resource values of wetlands can be I summarized as follows: 1: Wetlands affect the quality of water. Aquatic plants change inorganic nutrients into organic material, storing it in their leaves or in the peat, I which is composed of their remains. The stems, leaves, and roots of these plants also slow the flow of water through a wetland, allowing silt to settle out, as well as catching some of it themselves. The removal of wetlands I causes faster runoff of dirtier water and, consequently, wetlands protect the downstream or offshore water resources of a community from siltation I and pollution. 2: Wetlands influence the quantity of water. They act to retain water during dry periods and hold it back during floods, keeping the water table high I and relatively stable. One acre of marsh is capable of absorbing or I I I holding 300,000 gallons of water, helping to protect a community against I flooding and drought. Coastal wetlands also absorb storm impact. 3: Wetlands are important resources for overall environmental health and I diversity. They provide essential breeding, nesting, resting, and feeding grounds and predator-escape cover for many species of fish and wildlife, and the presence of water is attractive to many birds and animals. Since it I is here that the food webs of land and water are most intimately connected, wetlands are important for supporting a wide variety of plants and animals. These factors have the social value of providing general I environmental health; creating recreational, research, and educational sites; maintaining the economic functions of trapping and fishing; and I> adding to the aesthetics of a community. Wetlands affect water quality by trapping and storing the nutrients from upland runoff in plant tissue and serving as a settling basin for silt from upland erosion. This natural I filtering function of wetlands can be seriously damaged, however, by poor land .use practices. Since every wetland has a unique tolerance for filtering runoff from the uplands around it, development in the upland can create more nutrient and sediment 1 inflow than the marsh is able to absorb. Moreover, development in and around the fringe of the marsh itself can destroy its ecological health and filtering ability. I As the nutrient level of a body of water increases, the water supports more plant life, which in turn builds the water body’s organic bottom. Wetlands, because of their greater plant population and their tendency to hold water longer so that it is not flushed I downstream quickly, trap these nutrients, which are then stored as muck and peat deposits. Under normal conditions these deposits do not build up as rapidly as is often supposed. It can take thousands of years to add a few feet to the bottom of a bog. On I the other hand, human activities can compress this long, gradual process from centu&es to a few decades or even years. Sediments and nutrients from upland development can 1 overload and damage the natural system, turning the wetland into a settling basin of polluted and unpleasant-smelling water. 1 Treating wetlands as settling basins for overland runoff has many of the same qualifications that apply to their function as nutrient traps. Removing wetlands will immediately affect adjacent waters by increasing the flow of dirtier water into them. I Wetlands act to hold down the amount of suspended particles in water by slowing the upland runoff as it flows through the tangle of wetland plant roots and systems. The resulting reduction in the force of water flow and the natural catch basin formed by plant I roots allows some sediment to settle. Though overland runoff is a natural process that, in itself, is not harmful to wetlands, if the speed of runoff or the erodibility of the upland is increased, then wetlands will be overloaded in the same manner as they can be by I nutrient inputs. Wetlands have value to a community because they moderate extremes in water supply. I They retain water during dry periods and hold it back during floods, thus keeping the I I water table high and relatively stable. Peat, the organic material deposited at the bottom of a wetland as plants die, can hold and maintain large quantities of water. This absorptive property of the peat makes wetlands natural sponges that reduce the risks of flooding and drought. The complete relationship between marshes and groundwater hydrology is more complicated; here, wetlands have one of three general characteristics: 1: The wetland is a recharge area for groundwater. Some portion of the wetland’s basin extends below and connects with the water table, the top surface of groundwater. During periods of heavy precipitation, much of the runoff on the uplands is moving too rapidly to be absorbed by the soil and cannot enter the groundwater supply. Since wetlands slow the flow and hold the water, additional amounts of it are able to replenish the underground supplies. Then, during dry periods, the peat of the wetlands will continue to release water, thus keeping the groundwater supply relatively stable. The levels of water in the two systems, however, will not be equal. After a hard rain, especially if overland flow occurs, water will be higher in the wetlands. Surface water will percolate into the groundwater until both levels are about the same. After a drought, the water level is down in the wetland due to evaporation, but may be replenished somewhat by groundwater. Eventually, however, the groundwater becomes low enough so the wetland may dry up. This process is often the most dramatic with sedge or shallow marshes. These areas are “temporary” wetlands, with standing water during rains that dry up during other periods. They have greater absorption capacity during periods of precipitation and then depend upon contact with the groundwater during periods of drought. I Since these are also the easiest areas to drain or fill they are most subject to destruction, but damaging them means damaging the groundwater I supply. 2: The wetland is a groundwater discharge. Although this wetland type may receive water from overland flow, it also obtains water from springs and I seepages. Because they are fed from clean underground water, they are likely to support different plant populations and be of higher quality than wetlands that are dependent upon overland flow for their water. Many ‘I plants depend on the stable water level maintained by groundwater flow. 3: The wetland is “perched” above the water table, but a layer of I impermeable clay seals its basin floor. In this case, there is minimal linkage between the wetland and the water table; the wetland simply acts as a catch basin for overland flow. During periods of heavy precipitation m the basin will fill until it overflows, sending the rest of the water 1 I downstream or into an adjacent lake. In this way it functions like a small dam by reducing the total amount of water in lower areas of the watershed, thereby reducing flood risk. During periods of drought, it loses water through evaporation like the uplands, but at a slower rate because of soil and plant conditions, and thus acts as a water hole for farm animals or wildlife. The cycling of water is important to a wetland’s viability, as well as providing a natural mechanism that moderates the extreme of flooding and drought. Many wetland plants and animals depend on fluctuations in water level for their existence. For example, high spring waters stimulate the growth of sedges, but since they must be slightly above the water level for effective growth, they depend upon the gradual subsidence of spring floodwaters. Likewise, the lowering of the water table provides nesting places for ducks and other waterfowl. Erratic or unnatural patterns of water fluctuation, however, seriously affect these species. If water supplies are to be maintained and stabilized to reduce the danger of floods in other areas of the watershed and to reduce the chances of drought in the immediate area of the wetland, then wetlands must be protected, particularly “temporary” wetlands such as the low prairies, the sedge meadows, and the shallow marshes that are wet only part of the year. These areas are often overlooked, but make important contributions to our water resources. Wetlands provide essential breeding, nesting, resting, and feeding grounds and predator- escape cover for many kinds of fish and wildlife. Since the food webs of land and water are most intimately connected in wetlands, they are thus important for supporting a wide variety of both land and water animals. Likewise, wetlands provide habitats for a wide range of vegetative communities that could not exist without them. In these ways wetlands provide the benefits of a healthy environment. They are sites for recreation, research, and education; they support wildlife and game for hunting, fishing, and trapping; and they add to the aesthetics of the community. Local government should be concerned about these benefits because they are intricately connected with the desire to promote the most suitable use of land, to prevent nuisance-like uses of land that hm common resources, and to protect residential quality and the economic base of the community. To a large extent, if marshes are performing their various water-related functions properly, species diversity and environmental health will follow as a matter of course. However, it is important to understand how species diversity works and why it is important. The more varied an environment is in terms of habitat, flora, and fauna, the more stable it is. Stability in an ecosystem means the lack of large fluctuations due to inside or outside disturbances. Species diversity ensures that the more channels there are for diverting and dispersing the results of disturbance, the less likely it is that there will be abrupt population changes. Within a healthy, diverse ecosystem, each plant or animal species will have its own functional position, or niche. A niche is the sum of the relationships a species has with the rest of the system: what it eats, how, and when; what temperature it prefers; whether it is active by day or night; what plants it uses for cover and nesting; and so on. The theory of the niche assumes that species avoid direct competition by not using the same resources in the same way at the same place and time. Niches may overlap partly, but not completely. Thus species complement each other rather than being in constant, direct competition. Wetland ecosystems are more complex in terms of this species diversity than some other systems. One explanation is that they have a number of edges or boundaries between different types of vegetation. At such edges the greatest diversity occurs. Along their immediate uplands, wetlands may be surrounded by trees or shrubs; as the gradient declines there may be sedge meadows or shallow marshes; finally, there is a change to deep marshes and open water. Each of these areas provides niches for different plants and animals. Aquifers: Concern about the water quality of lakes, streams, and rivers is a result of the visual and physical contact that people have with these bodies of water, and when they become polluted or depleted, public outcry demands action. Though this surface water is an important part of the hydrological cycle, it is only one part. Another equally critical element in that cycle and in our water resources is groundwater: water lying beneath the surface. Pollution and depletion of our groundwater resources, however, are not so visible to the public eye. As a result of their invisibility and the consequent lack of information and knowledge about groundwater hydrology, the protection of our groundwater resources has not traditionally been of great importance. Groundwater is contained in underground formations called aquifers, which may be composed of consolidated rocks, such as limestone or basalt, or unconsolidated gravels and sands. This stored water is released to the surface through wells and springs or by seepage into lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Just as groundwater ultimately returns to the surface, it is also replenished from the surface. Water from streams and lakes seeps down into an aquifer and, where an aquifer or a transmitting formation is exposed to the surface, precipitation percolates directly into the aquifer. Consequently, the groundwater reservoirs moderate surface flow; they absorb water during rains or periods of high flow and then gradually release it during periods of low flow. Although groundwater is directly related to surface water, it is also an important resource in its own right. More than 50 percent of the country's population is dependent upon this resource for its drinking water. Approximately one-quarter of Erie County's population is served by either a central water system supplied by wells or by individual on-lot wells. Vast agricultural 'enterprises utilize groundwater for irrigation. Commercial and industrial processes are similarly dependent. Yet in order to meet the needs of users, the water must be available on location at a certain quality and quantity. To insure availability, groundwater should be treated as a limited and sensitive renewable resource. Groundwater differs in some important ways from other renewable resources. Unlike agricultural or forested areas, there are few private incentives to foster the conservation of groundwater. On the other hand, groundwater is essentially a public good with few private economic incentives for its preservation. Thus, the role for local agencies is to establish an incentive for the protection of this renewable resource. The pollution or depletion of local groundwater can make a community instantly aware of the importance of this resource. Aquifers are significant as a public resource because they perform three important functions: 1: Aquifers are natural reservoirs for groundwater used for drinking and irrigation. Though some communities depend upon surface water supplies in lakes and streams, many others depend upon wells drilled into aquifers for part or all of their water. These areas must protect groundwater so that the quantity of water entering the aquifer meets their needs. 2: Aquifers are natural filters for groundwater used for drinking and related purposes. Percolation of precipitation through the soil and overlying formations filters many impurities; as groundwater moves through the water-bearing formations of aquifers, it is further filtered. However, this filtering property of aquifers is not absolute. Leaking septic tanks and sewage lines, unsealed landfill sites, and sewage and solid waste disposal sites can allow pollutants to pass directly into groundwater reserves where the water table is near the surface, the soil mantel is very thin, or the aquifer very permeable. In these cases concern must be directed toward the quality of water entering the aquifer. 3: Aquifers are interconnected with surface water systems in lakes, streams, and wetlands. Some aquifers depend for part or all of their recharge upon seepage from lakes and streams. Likewise some streams and ponds, and many wetlands, depend upon flow from aquifer-fed springs or seeps for supplementary water during dry periods. Thus, pollution or depletion of surface water may similarly affect groundwater reserves, and vice versa. Here, concern must be with both the quality and quantity of water entering and leaving the groundwater reserve. Because of these three major functions - as reservoirs, filters, and a part of the hydrologic cycle - aquifers are important public resources. Theoretically, there is groundwater beneath all areas, but some types of aquifers are more productive than others. Nearly all the groundwater pumped in the County comes from highly productive gravels and sands. These unconsolidated deposits are found along watercourses, in floodplains, and in buried or abandoned riverbeds or valleys. Some unconsolidated materials such as clays, silt, and certain kinds of glacial deposits are porous, but not highly permeable, and are relatively unproductive aquifers. Yet they are just below the surface of extensive areas of the country and supply limited amounts of water to many wells in rural areas. Consolidated rocks, because of compaction and cementing materials holding the particles together, are generally unporous. However, fractures and joints increase porosity, and the property of some rocks, notably limestone, to be dissolved by water, creates many I openings in the rock. In many parts of Erie County groundwater is pumped out of these aquifers for use as drinking water or imgation. Yet there are natural limits upon the amount of water that may be extracted from a given aquifer. Although many aquifers are replenished or recharged by seepage from adjacent underground formations, all aquifers depend, whether directly or indirectly, upon the infiltration of surface water for recharging the groundwater supply. The amount of water which enters the aquifers yearly, whether directly from percolation and surface water seepage or indirectly from adjacent formations, determines the amount of water that can be withdrawn annually without severely depleting the reservoir. Annual average recharge is determined in large part by climate and annual precipitation, but there are other factors as well. The soil must be permeable in order to allow surface water percolation in to the aquifer, or there must be many bodies of surface water with permeable formations connecting them with aquifers. Vegetation on slopes can aid in the process of aquifer recharge by retarding runoff and allowing rain to percolate into the ground. Failing to consider natural limits on recharge can result in the overuse and waste of the resource. Since the perennial yield or amount of water that can be taken from an aquifer annually is dependent upon the amount of water recharged into that aquifer, if more water is pumped out than is recharged, the level of the groundwater reservoir begins to fall. This practice, called mining, can create serious problems when a small annual recharge is greatly exceeded by water demands of communities and agriculture. In areas where pumping exceeds aquifer recharge rates, water conservation is important. If the water withdrawn from the aquifer were purified and then returned to the groundwater after it was used, the perennial yield could be maintained and in some cases increased. Instead, much of the water withdrawn from the groundwater reservoir is sent down streams, creeks, and rivers. Mining can also cause the land surface to sink or subside. When the water is withdrawn from the aquifer, water from surrounding clay or silt layers is drawn into the more permeable aquifer, causing the clay to shrink as it dries out. The clay shrinkage may be substantial enough to cause subsidence at the surface. In addition to overuse and waste of groundwater resources, human activities can also impede tlln@u& of groundwater recharge. Although many aquifers are recharged indirectly from streams or subterranean waters over a large area of land, an aquifer may receive a substantial portion of its water from a relatively identifiable recharge area. Development in the recharge area and accompanying coverage with impervious surfaces I will impair recharge to the underlying aquifer by physically sealing the recharge area to I percolation, thereby decreasing recharge as well as increasing surface runoff. In the process of aquifer recharge, whether directly from the surface or indirectly through I surrounding formations, some degree of purification occurs. Silt-laden runoff or organically rich effluents from septic tanks are filtered by the soil mantle through which the water percolates. Different soil types have different filtering properties; a coarse I gravel will allow water to pass through rapidly and relatively unchanged, whereas a clay soil slows the flow and filters out some contaminants. Of course, a thick layer of any soil has a greater filtering capacity than a thin layer of the same material. However, even the I most effective filtering action of the soil will not remove all contaminants. Depending on its composition, the aquifer itself also acts as a partial filter to water i passing through it. All aquifers can partially dispel pollutants and impurities by diluting them, but relatively permeable aquifers composed of small particles do additional filtering. As the groundwater moves slowly through such formations, usually at the rate I of several inches to a few feet per day, impurities settle out into the transmitting material. However, highly permeable aquifers, through whch groundwater moves as much as 100 I feet per day, will do little filtering. In general, however, the filtering ability of most aquifers and the process by which they are recharged insures that under natural conditions groundwater is relatively pure, I especially in comparison to surface water supplies. Although there are aquifers that naturally contain brackish, highly mineralized, or saline waters, much groundwater can be pumped untreated from a well and used for human consumption. Yet improper land I use is a threat to these reserves of pure water. Poorly planned waste disposal, urban runoff, heavy use of fertilizers, and other land use practices can allow toxic chemicals, I harmful bacteria, and other damaging substances to enter the groundwater reservoir. The most crucial factor in determining the susceptibility of the aquifer to pollution from I these sources is the location of the water table. The water table is the upper surface of soils, bedrock, or other minerals saturated by water. It marks the top line of groundwater, but not necessarily the presence of an aquifer, which may be hundreds of feet beneath I water-saturated soil. However, the water table does mark the occurrence of the water which eventually enters the aquifer. Thus, an area where the water table is just beneath the surface, or where there is only a thin soil mantle, or where the soil is highly I permeable, must be treated with care in terms of pollutants. Looking at the range of land use activities that have traditionally caused problems of I groundwater pollution will give an idea of how important the connection between water table and aquifer purity can be: I 1: Placing septic tanks or cesspools below or near the water table allows sewage effluent to enter the groundwater without adequate filtration. I I I I 2: Leaks in sewer pipes connected to a centralized sewage system will have I the same result. 3: Agricultural activities, such as cattle feedlots and intensive fertilization I add nutrients and chemicals to the groundwater, especially where the water table is close to the surface or the soil exceptionally permeable. I 4: Poorly constructed storage tanks for chemicals and petroleum products, oil spills at airports or industrial sites, and petroleum pipeline leaks can create I similar hazards. 5: Excessive use of salt on highways can create saline pollution of 1 groundwater resources. The effects of these various sources of organic and chemical pollutants range from a negligible to severe. Woodlands: Man’s impact on Erie County’s forests has been extensive. While major portions of the County’s woodlands have been left untouched, much of today’s forests 1 consist of second- or third-growth timber. Though markedly different from the original woodlands, today’s forests are nevertheless of incalculable value for timber, wildlife habitat, recreation, and aesthetic enjoyment. While large acreages are protected as state I game preserves and state and county owned parks, significant parts of our woodlands are once again under potential threat, this time chiefly from poorly planned housing and a suburban development, rather than lumber and agricultural development. Not only do the recreational, aesthetic, and economic benefits of woodlands suffer from I poorly planned use, but other, less familiar benefits of forests are also harmed. Woodlands are important moderators of climatic phenomena, such as flooding and high winds, and thus protect watersheds from the siltation and erosion resulting from heavy 1 runoff or wind. The forest floor acts as a filter to water percolating into groundwater reservoirs, and the forest itself can improve air quality by absorbing some air pollutants. Moreover, woodlands moderate local climatic changes, most significantly by providing I more moderate temperatures in contrast to the fluctuation between hot days and chilly nights in open areas such as fields, suburbs, and cities. I The question is not whether woodlands will be developed; it is rather how that development will occur. One look at a community that allowed the careless development of its woodlands shows that the public interest in woodland protection extends far beyond 1 aesthetics. Increased erosion and siltation, decreased water quality, loss of landscape diversity, increased dangers from flooding, and decreased land values are all possible results of poorly planned woodland development. Cutting the forest can also change the I surrounding ecology of wildlife and associated herbs and shrubs completely. Due to their small size and the proximity of housing and commercial development, most I forests in suburban areas are unsuited for the economic uses of tree forestry, yet they I I I have values that cannot be measured in board feet. Maintaining overall environmental I health, protecting watersheds and soils, improving water and air quality, buffering the noises and sights of civilization, and modifying the climate of the urban environment are I some of the woodland’s greatest benefits. Woodlands provide a varied and rich environment of many kinds of plants and animals. The different layers of treetops, branches, trunks, shrubs, and plants on the forest floor I provide breeding, feeding, and refuge areas for many species of insects, birds, and mammals. This environmental diversity of woodlands is an important resource for wildlife conservation and general environmental health and is crucial to our enjoyment of I them for recreation, hunting, and fishing. Woodlands protect and conserve important resources such as watersheds and soils. I Forest vegetation moderates the effects of winds and storms, stabilizes and enriches the soil, and slows runoff from precipitation, thereby allowing it to be filtered by the forest floor as it soaks down into groundwater reserves. By decreasing runoff and increasing I groundwater infiltration, woodlands also protect a community from flooding. Woodlands are buffers to the sights and sounds of civilization. Woodlands mute the I noise from freeways and factories, as well as absorb some air pollutants. Woodlands are moderators of climatic extremes. The microclimate of a forest, created in I part by the shade of the trees and the transpiration of water from the leaves, keeps surrounding air at an even temperature. Forest temperatures are generally cooler in the day and warmer at night than the more widely fluctuating temperatures of unforested I areas. Woodlands adjacent to and interspersed among suburban and urban areas thus act as natural air conditioners. ‘I Though trees are considered the chief ingredients of forests, the woodland ecosystem consists of many different species of plants and animals. This diversity is aided by the I different patterns and rates of succession dependent upon natural disturbance. The variety in natural environments is crucial to their health; the more options an ecosystem has for the breeding, feeding, and shelter of its flora and fauna, the more likely it will be I to absorb the effects of any disturbance. Once this diversity is lost, however, the more susceptible the area is to the effects of disease, fire, and other disturbances. With few niches for animal and insect life, the essential role of pest predation is lost and must be I replaced by artificial means. Since an ecosystem is more capable of absorbing stress if it is diverse, it is certainly 1 within the public interest to protect woodland diversity. This goal is particularly important in the suburban forest, where human activities disturb the natural ecosystem to one degree or another. If the forest is able to adapt to human influence, it will continue to 1 provide benefits to the public. Careful regulation of woodland land use will protect the diverse character of the ecology and keep its ecosystem healthy and resilient. I I I I A wooded area can be of great value to a watershed area. The canopy of trees and I understory aid in breaking the force of precipitation, thereby decreasing erosion, which is further inhibited by the fibrous root system of the understory plants, as well as by the layer of leaf or needle litter. As the force of precipitation is decreased by the vegetation I and the absorptive qualities of the usually porous forest floor, more water is given additional time to soak into the ground. Thus, forests aid in reducing not only the force I of precipitation, but the amount of runoff, as well. Woodlands also afford protection from wind erosion. Just as the vegetation breaks the force of precipitation, leaves and branches moderate the strength of winds. Not only is I the ground beneath the forest protected, the wind velocity on the leeward side of the forest may be reduced by as much as 60 percent. I Woodlands are particularly important protectors and conservers of watersheds and soils in certain critical areas. Destruction of woodlands in hilly or mountainous regions can have serious effects. In such areas, where the soil mantle is especially thin, the loss of I forest cover can result in erosion of the valuable soil. With no soil or vegetation to moderate runoff from precipitation, flooding may result, as well as loss of precipitation i ordinarily retained and recharged into groundwater reserves by the forest. Not only do forests improve soil and water quality, they also improve air quality. Leaves moist with dew or rainwater can reduce suspended particles in the air, which are later I washed off by rainwater. Furthermore, plants can serve to moderate the effect of chemical pollutants in the air by absorbing some ozone, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Though plants can absorb such pollutants and thus moderate their .effects, trees I themselves can be severely damaged by them. .I Conifers and other evergreens are particularly susceptible to air pollution since, unlike deciduous trees, they retain their needles year-round. This is a particular problem in cold I climates where salt used on highways and streets severely damages evergreen trees. Forests can also contribute to noise abatement, with the density of a forest and the source of the sound the crucial factors. A dense stand of trees can significantly cut noise from I adjacent land uses by six to eight decibels per 100 feet of forest. Many conifers, because of their thick, year-round foliage, are particularly valuable for moderating noise. Moreover, the moderating effects of forests on temperature and wind can significantly cut I the sound-carrying capacity of the atmosphere. The significance of woodlands is given added weight by the less quantifiable benefits 1 they provide to the public. Forests are important buffers. They add aesthetic values and provide attractive sites for recreational activities such as hiking, camping, and picnicking. Scenic and recreational uses of the forest provide a secondary benefit: the continued I stability of good real estate values. Since people choose to live in and around woodlands, providing for woodland protection in the planning of development projects will maintain I good real estate values. I I The resilience of forests in adapting to environmental change is aided by the creation of a microclimate around the forest itself. The forest not only adapts to its environment, but also significantly influences it on a local level in order to maintain and augment environmental conditions favorable to it. Those qualities of the forest which moderate and buffer temperature, precipitation, runoff, wind, and noise are features of this microclimatic effect. The forest canopy fimctions much like a cloud cover, keeping warmth from the ground in at night and dispelling heat from the sun during the day. Part of the dispersal of daytime heat is accomplished by absorption of solar radiation. Moreover, the vegetation of the forest produces “summer haze,” a cover of water vapor from transpiration and evaporation that can absorb up to 20 percent of incoming solar radiation. The forest thus acts as an air conditioner to surrounding areas by absorbing large quantities of radiation and moderating large amounts of air within its shade. The benefits of this microclimatic effect to surrounding urban and suburban areas can be significant. An urban environment devoid of vegetation is the exact opposite of the forest microclimate. It increases the range of temperature fluctuations, much like the climatic effects of the desert. The sun’s energy striking streets and buildings is changed into heat, fbrther increasing the temperature on a hot day; at night the buildings lose this heat and offer no protective cover from night chill or winter winds. Thus, if forests are interspersed among built-up areas, the effects of their microclimates can be felt in adjacent urban areas, moderating fluctuations in temperature by keeping the surrounding air cooler in the summer and daytime and warmer in the winter and evening. Escarpments: Escarpments are steep slopes that have formed as the result of stream cutting or lakeshore erosion. In general, escarpments are slopes that range from 25 to 60 percent and are between 50 and 200 feet long. Compared to development in other sensitive areas, escarpments have long been regulated in some areas and the consequent regulations are quite sophisticated. A major reason for this sophistication is the number of disasters resulting from poorly designed slope development. As with floodplain regulations, the willingness to develop land use regulations for sensitive areas seems tied to the frequency or magnitude of the “natural” disasters. However, there is nothing natural about hillside disasters that damage homes, degrade water supplies, or increase flood hazards. In almost every case, such disasters are the result of insufficient predevelopment investigation, poor development design, or inappropriate construction practices. Poorly designed and constructed hillside developments frequently result in substantial costs to the public, either for repairs or for protective measures to prevent further damage. Increased runoff and sedimentation from denuded slopes require increased public expenditures for flood control and storm water management. If these costs were absorbed in specialized onsite design regulations, then the general public would be spared the additional expense. However, once the basic development pattern for an area is established, the public must either provide protection or live with the threat of disaster. In either case, it is an expensive undertaking. Not only does poorly regulated slope development result in increased public expenditures for remedial protection from disaster, but additional dollars must also be spent for various public utilities and public services in such areas. Development on steep slopes is more expensive than development on flatter terrain, since the installation of public facilities such as roads, sewer and water lines, schools, and fire and police stations require specialized engineering and construction techniques in these hilly areas. These expenditures amount to public subsidies for the benefit of hillside residents at the expense of citizens living in more accessible terrain. Since the stability of each slope depends upon its unique combination of vegetation, climate, soil, and underlying geology, problems of hillside development also vary from region to region. Because of the variety of local concern and approaches to slope development, regulations must be tailored to each specific case, thus requiring the collection of data and the implementation of various techniques in each area. Consequently, it is impossible to specify the “best” approach to hillside regulation. Escarpments are a different kind of critical area. Unlike groundwater, they are not a renewable resource, nor do they have clearly defined benefits for the public good, like woodlands or wetlands. Slopes are geological features on the landscape whose percentage of angle and soil type are in a balance with vegetation, underlying geology, and the amount of precipitation. Maintaining this equilibrium reduces the danger to public health and safety posed by unstable slopes. Development of escarpments affects the equilibrium of vegetation, geology, and soil and water runoff to one degree or another, and the public objectives can be defined in terms of that disturbance: 1: Disturbances of escarpments can result in the loss of slope and soil stability as well as increased erosion. The removal of vegetation from hillsides deprives the soils of the stabilizing function of roots, as well as the moderating effects on wind and water erosion of leaves and branches. Loss of soil suitability increases erosion and thus lowers downstream water quality as a result of siltation. Downstream wetlands can be injured in this way. Spring thaws or strong rains on unstable slopes can produce mass movements such as landslides and slumps, particularly in steeply sloping areas. 2: Disturbance of escarpments can increase runoff. Development may alter the natural drainage pattern of a hillside, producing increased runoff and erosion. Removal of vegetative cover decreases percolation of precipitation into the soil, thereby reducing the amount of groundwater recharge and adding water to runoff that would ordinarily be transpired by trees and shrubs. Construction of impervious surfaces, such as roads and buildings, decreases the amount of groundwater percolation and thus increases the amount of runoff. Increased runoff, in addition to producing intensified erosion, also creates downstream flood hazards. 3: Disturbance of escarpments can destroy a community’s aesthetic resources. A range of hills frequently marks a community’s boundaries and provides an attractive setting for homes and buildings. Degradation of hillsides as a result of erosion, mass movement, loss of vegetation, and damage to downstream areas deprive a community of its attractive and distinctive setting and decreases real estate values. In these three areas, escarpment development can have a far-reaching impact upon a community’s land, water, economic, and aesthetic resources. Steep slopes must be developed in a manner compatible with hillside ecology. Though the angle and soil type of a slope are generally balanced with the amount of precipitation, vegetative cover, and the underlying geology, escarpments are constantly in motion. This perpetual downward movement of hills is the result of the almost imperceptible and gradual effects of weathering and erosion. Alternate freezing and thawing of rocks and the chemical action of water gradually disintegrates them into soil particles. The downward pull of gravity, aided by the force of running water or ice, moves these materials down the slopes. Slope movement of this type is part of the hydrogeologic cycle that creates new soil by weathering and carries it via streams into valleys and plains. Rock formations and soils are held in place by friction. Thus, any increase in the load can cause a landslide. Since water between the rocks and particles acts as a lubricant, rocks and soils saturated by Spring thaws or heavy precipitation can overcome this friction and cause a slide. Moreover, since saturated materials are heavier than drier ones, heavy rains or melting water can overload a slope’s retaining capacity. In addition to the retaining power of friction, many slopes are held in place by accumulated debris or other formations at the bottom or foot of the hill. Loss of this support through erosion or development can also cause a landslide. Slumps are less dramatic forms of mass movement caused when the soil is oversaturated, thereby decreasing the friction between the particles. They occur in homogeneous materials such as clay soils, and are frequently seen along the Lake Erie coastline of Erie County, especially in Springfield and Girard Townships. Disturbance of escarpments susceptible to the mass movement of materials in landslides and slumps usually occurs in two ways; decreasing stability and increasing groundwater load. Vegetation not only aids slope stability, but also consumes a great deal of water; thus, removal of grasses, shrubs, and trees can increase soil saturation by the release of more water for absorption by the soil. Even in those circumstances when it is possible to replace natural vegetation with artificial landscaping, there can be severe consequences. In both denuded and vegetated areas the amount of moisture in the soil, particularly during seasonal rainfall or melt, may be too much to support development, which would increase the water content and create slide or slump hazards. A good index for such areas is the average height of the water table. If it is near the surface, development should be discouraged, not only because of potential mass movement, but also because of the likelihood of polluting the groundwater. Vegetative cover plays an important role in moderating erosion. Leaves and organic litter cushion the impact of precipitation and increase the soil’s permeability. While dried hay may be scattered over a disturbed slope or vegetation may be replaced, some soils will support only specialized vegetation. In regions where the soil mantle is very thin, even a short period of no cover, especially during periods of heavy precipitation or melting, can erode enough of the soil to make replacing lost vegetation difficult, if not impossible. Rapid erosion of escarpments causes many other problems, too. Since the effects of hillside erosion as a result of disturbance are felt throughout the entire drainage basin, what happens on the hillside will eventually be reflected in the larger watershed. The impact of increased runoff may thus be far greater in downstream areas than on the hillside itself. The increased sediment load can choke streams, fill up wetlands, and increase turbidity, thereby making these water systems unsuitable for drinking water and for supporting many species of plants and animals. The mechanical alteration of escarpments by grading or leveling not only destroys the vegetative cover, but also alters the character of a slope. The degree of slope may be increased, thereby increasing erosion, and more easily eroded soils or rocks may be uncovered. The most extreme alteration of a hillside is to level it. This and similar radical changes of hillsides can have far-reaching consequences, including rapid erosion, disturbance of groundwater hydrology, and alteration in stream flow and drainage patterns. Escarpments are distinctive features of a local landscape, providing a community with an attractive setting. Often they are natural boundaries that establish the political identity of a community. One index of the aesthetic value of escarpments is the premium of real estate sites with a “view.” However, it is relatively difficult to quanti@ the aesthetic resources of steep slopes in providing a varied landscape and community identity. Scattered projects that retain most of the vegetation and distinctive features, such as hilltops and outcroppings, and follow the natural terrain are not only attractive, but also safe and ecologically sound. Natural Resources Preservation Plan If there is any single idea that can be gained by this examination of natural resources, it is that the natural environment is not a collection of discrete, unrelated phenomena. Wetlands, groundwater, woodlands, and escarpments are all woven together in a complex fabric, and to affect one will, to some extent, affect them all. And human civilization is not exempt. We are every bit a product and a member of the environment as a stand of pine trees, a herd of deer, or a trout stream. Where humans differ is that we can take conscious actions to alter our environment. It is not wrong that we do so, for we have made our lives much more productive and comfortable than they would have been otherwise, but we must recognize that our actions will have consequences. It is our responsibility to minimize the negative consequences of our actions so that the environment and the natural resources it contains remain as something that people will be able to enjoy into the future. This is especially important in Erie County, which, despite having one of the largest cities in Pennsylvania, also has a I significant rural area and, in the Presque Isle Peninsula and Lake Erie shoreline, one of Pennsylvania’s most unique natural features. I Comprehensive Planning: Perhaps the most effective manner in which natural resources can be preserved is through comprehensive planning. Comprehensive planning is the only way a community can articulate its vision of itself and establish a method for I implementing and achieving that vision. A considered and coherent comprehensive plan should be the basis of a municipality’s ordinances and policies, in a deliberate attempt to 1 implement the plan. Any community’s comprehensive plan should enumerate those natural resources that the community values, and should set forth policies aimed at preserving them to the level that I the community deems desirable. The County should encourage all municipalities to undertake an examination of the natural resources within their borders. A community can plan to protect and preserve its natural resources only after it is aware of what and 1 where they are. This process may be as simple and straightforward as compiling a list of significant natural features, or as complex and extensive as developing maps showing woodlands, watersheds, topography, wetlands, and aquifers and groundwater recharge areas. Most municipalities in Erie County have adopted comprehensive plans, but many are over fifteen years old, and some were completed nearly thirty years ago. Many of the urban or “urban fringe” municipalities have recent comprehensive plan updates or are developing updates, but many rural municipalities, especially in the southern and southwestern portions of the county, are among those that have the oldest plans. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, amended by Acts 67, 68, and 127 in 2000, IB now requires that comprehensive plans be reviewed and updated every ten years. The County should encourage and assist all municipalities in updating their comprehensive plans in a thoughtfil and coherent manner. In particular, care should be taken to plan for the preservation of natural resources to the extent that the municipality deems it desirable. Future land use, the extension of the road network, and the extension of water and sewer lines will all have an impact on the natural environment and its interrelationships. If a community decides that it is important for a stretch of forest, or a stream valley, or a section of the lake bluff to remain undeveloped into the future, then it is important that the community’s comprehensive plan reflect this. Pursuant to this end, a community may use the official map provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to establish specific goals. Section 40 1 of the MPC states, in part, that a municipality may adopt an Official Map “which may show appropriate elements.. . of the comprehensive plan.. . with regard to public lands and facilities.. ..” These may include “proposed public parks, playgrounds, and open space reservations.” The adoption of an official map allows a municipality to specify areas that, in the future, will or could be put to public use and to give public notice that those areas are under such consideration. The County should encourage any municipality that adopts a new comprehensive plan to also adopt an Oficial Map Ordinance, as well. This Ordinance may, among other items, specifi any parcels or portions of parcels that the municipality is willing to work to acquire to maintain as open space. It should also take care to not extend certain improvements, such as roads, through areas that the municipality desires to remain open and undeveloped. Such official maps must, of course, be consistent with the comprehensive plan. It must be noted that once a parcel or portion of a parcel has been designated on a municipality’s Official Map, if action is taken by the current owner to subdivide, build, or otherwise develop in the designated portion, the municipality has one year to begin the acquisition process. Consequently, a municipality should take care to designate only those parcels or portions of parcels that it is willing to make a definite commitment to acquire. Conclusion: Planning for the preservation of a community’s natural resources should be seen as just as important as planning for residential, commercial, or industrial development. One of the most frequent complaints about many new developments is “there aren’t any trees.” Broad expanses of concrete and asphalt, even those broken up by carefully manicured lawns, are not an adequate replacement for the original landscape. But the value of a community’s natural resources really extends beyond any aesthetic value of “the view,” into mitigation and control of other natural phenomena. Woodlands, hillsides, streams and wetlands, and groundwater all effect and are affected by one another. When a development disturbs one of these it will, in the long term, disturb them all and will ultimately affect development, either itself or another one downstream. Growth and development are not and should not be seen as incompatible with the preservation of a community’s natural resources; development does not require widespread harm to natural resources, and natural resources preservation does not necessitate the halt of development. The challenge, however, is to integrate the two. When this occurs, and it can, a community can achieve something much more desirable than either of them individually. 1 I 1 1 I I APPENDIX E 1 PENNVEST LAND USE POLICY INITIATIVES 1 1 I I 1 I I I I I I I PENNVEST'will adopt a two-tiered approach to targeting grant PENNVEST Board Adopts New - funds. with the intent being to focus grant resources on pmjects I that would not go forward. or for that matter would not even Land Use Policv Initiatives apply to us. without grant assistance. Tier One: The first priority for receiving grant would & 1At its November 15th meeting the PEWVEST Board adopted funds che following initiatives. those applicant systems that have either a median household in- come less than the statewide average. or have a service dismct of 1Steps that PENPkEST has already implemented to incor- l.Oo0 househoIds or fewer. porate land use issues into its actions. zerTWQ: Within the abovedefined group of systems, we will create a special set-aside of grant funds for the very small 1. Ivino fund *-ilitv to lm-s sys- I tems, defined as 250 households or fewer. For each round of . We have established an eligibility requirement for PEN- funding we will reserve up to some percentage of grant funds 'VEST funding that proposed projects be consistent with appli- (e.8. 50 percent) to spend first on this subgroup of applicants to rable municipal. multi-municipal or county comprehensive land bring their user rates as close to their target rates as possible. If use plans and zoning ordinances. In the future, these compre- any of these reserved funds are left over after addressing the needs ensive plans will have to meet the legislated requirements of of this subgroup, we will add them to the funds available for all ct 67 and (panicuiarly) Act 68 as these requirements take ef- 0tt.e; app!icar,ts t9at fall wit%i :ier one. Applicants that do not fall within either of these tier groups - We have taken steps to ensure that a proposed project does would be eligible for grant funds from .each round of funding ot threaten prime agricultural land, as determined by county after the grant needs of these first two groups are met. agricultural preservation boards. In all cases. grants would be allocated based on our normal 2 Ensure coordination with other agencies durin*=proiect plan- affordability criteria. [ino and develociment B. Encourage small system applications At the planning consultation stage, PL'MVEST now coordi- aces not only with DEP but also with: In order to facilitate the inclusion of projects that may not now I be applying to PENNVEST, we will change the approval process county and municipal planning agencies regarding land use for small systems, defined as those serving 250 households or Esues fewer. Applications from such systems will be taken to the Board - county agricultural land preservation agencies regarding farm- for an initial approval at the project planning suge. If approved nd preservation issues by the Board, such projects will then effectively have a guarantee of funding on which they can rely to proceed with project design. r PENWEST has also initiated contact with DCED's Center The early approval would be subject to the following conditions: or Local Government Services to direct municipalities to them hen a need for financial or technical assistance with land use . The proposed project meets some threshold level of public lanning is identified. This effort will be more fully developed health, environmental or economic development benefit. t - The proposed project meers land use requirements listed in over the next few months. #I above. The applicant can demonstrate that the proposed project is L.2W' I consistent with known regionalization effons. For drinking wa- mnitv Zone and Industrial Sites Re use D- ter projects, this would involve coordination with the pmmin IPESXVEST has initiated coordination with KED'SKeystone DEP that provides funding for water supply plannins and small Opportunity Zone staff to ensure that efforts to reclaim systems regionalization efforts. . wastewater projects, the community in question exam- rownfields. in lieu of developing greenfields. are given every For pponunity to be considered for funding. ines the feasibility of a comprehensive sewage management Plan t as a project alternative (see KAbelow). Proposed new land use initiatives PEiWST will create a sepmte. simplified application PrO- cess for those eligible to apply for early approval. Applications will be submitted at the project planning stage. based on a Pe- liminq estimate for project costs. Approvals would be A. Target grants to small systems s& for Some period of time (say 12 to 14 months) in order to give the I community time to design and bid the project. at which time I I loadgrant sould k tinalized. It is imFor.ant to note that the only guumtez that PEShVEST I can pvtde up-front would k for funding 1t.e c'mnot gumtcc the terms of that funding fe.g. grant. interest rate. loan term) until we haw a better estimate of the project'j cost. which requires that I the project be designed. I A. Encoumgc comprehensive sewage mvlagement plans 3. Encourage smut growth initiatives by giving additional We usill encourage coordinated. comprthensive sewage man- priority to applications from xes covered by comprthensive land I agement planning at the municipal. multi-municipal or county use plans. and where the project is consistent with these plans. level. b3en developing comprehensive sewage management plans. municipal government(s) must address all the sewage needs of all the affected residents and these plans may include the operotion. PE,ESVEST Participates in Farmland I construction and maintenance of on-lot systems. smaIVcluster sew- Preservation Efforts age systems. conventional central sewage systems. or a combina- tion of these systems. On October 1 lo. PEINSVEST SURattended the Fall Workshop meeting of the Pennsylvania Farmland Reservation Macioa 1 In cases where PE.\(?NEST funding is needed to finance the Members traveled from across the Commonwealth ro in the Scull deve!opment of such a plan, chis could be mated as an advance Interpretive Center at Resque Isle State Park to share experiences funding effort. PEh3TEST could make an advance funding loan and Iem how to provide more effective service to their counaes. I to. say. the county. which would convert to a -mt if: PE.3VE.ST Deputy Director for Pmject >IM3gemCat Brioa a comprehensive sewage management plan is developed and Johnson joined personnel from the Department of Aegiculnut. implemented. and and the Depamncnt of Community and Economic Development I . affordabilicy considerations indicate chat a wtis warrantrd in providing information to the group of county-based officials. A. Modify our methodology for awYdin,o =mts for advance PEWVEST has rectntly implemented a pmess of soliciting funding assistance (Le. feasibility. design and engineering) to en- pyticipation from the county agiculture preservation boards and/ I couct~: land use considerations. or county conservation districts in order to ensure that my project funded by PESNVEST is consistent with local farmland Currently. PEhTVEST awards gmts for advance funding only preservation initiatives. Brion was able to jhae the basis of chis I when a loan for the advance funding itself would cause the effort with the county administntors, describe how the process bmwer's user rate to exceed the affordable rate. Estimated con- should wok and answer questions. Ellen Dayhoff. Workshop struction costs are not caken into account in any way. We will Chjirperson. and County Adminisvator from Adam County. was change this approach and award grants for advance funding ef- pleved with the paniciparion from the pupand is hopefui that I fons when the estimated project consuuction costs indicate that a future workshops will expand on these issues that impact famhd -mc would eventually be needed when the project actually gocs preservation cffons across the Commonwealth. *' I espect that to consuuction. We will do this only if all of the following condi- the lines of communication will strengthen as we work on fine tions xe met: tuning our interaction with PE>>TEST and other state agencies. I It's cncounging to have our comments taken into consideration before funding is awarded Dayhoff Said. I Funher information regarding the Pennsylvania Fmland Preservation Association can be obtained by contacting the Department of Agriculture. Bureau of Fvmland Protection or I your county Agrkultunl Land Reservation Office. I I I I I I I APPENDIX F I PENNDOT SOUND LAND USE STRATEGY I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 ,- ...... 1 .. . .- c ... . I I I I I I Introduction I On July 1, 1997, Governor Ridge issued Executive Order 1997-4, establishing the 2 lst Century Environment Commission. The Commission was charged “to recommend methods and policies to improve the environmental quality of the Commonwealth and measure the results, I while allowing for enhanced economic and social progress”. On September 15, 1998, the Commission issued a report declaring that promoting responsible land use was a top I environmental priority for Pennsylvania. In response to the 2 1St Century Environment Commission Report, Governor Ridge issued Executive Order 1999-1 on January 7, 1999. The E.O. requires all Commonwealth agencies to I identify laws, regulations, practices and policies, including the disbursement of public funding, that will advance the Commonwealth’s land use objectives. In addition, the E.O. established policy to guide Commonwealth agencies when making decisions that impact the use of land. I This guidance includes: m Infrastructure maintenance and improvement plans should be consistent with sound land use practices. m Soundly planned growth is in the best long-term interest of the Commonwealth and should be encouraged at all I levels of government. Farmland and open space are valued natural resources and reasonable measures for their preservation should be promoted. Development should be encouraged and supported in areas that have been previously developed or in locally I designated growth areas. Because land use decisions made at the local level have an impact that expands beyond municipal boundaries, regional cooperation among local governments should be encouraged. The Commonwealth shall work to improve the understanding of the impact of land use decisions on the I environment, econollljc, and social health of communities. m Sustaining the economic and social vitality of Pennsylvania’s communities must be a priority of state government. I In order to comply with the mandates outlined in E.O. 1999-1, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) established a Sound Land Use Strategies (SLUS) Team in May 1999 to develop a strategy for incorporating land use into the Department’s programs, policies I and activities. In addition, the SLUS Team was instrumental in examining proposed land use legislation for potential impact to the Department and served as an expert panel for making legislative recommendations during the development of Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code I (MPC) modifications. In developing a Sound Land Use Strategy, the SLUS Team conducted a Department-wide I initiative that included the formation of eight (8) focus groups. Each focus group was charged with evaluating the current integration of land use into PENNDOT programs, policies and procedures as well as making recommendations on how the Department could modi@ its I program elements to better incorporate and consider land use in the future. Using the information gathered from the focus groups, the SLUS Team developed a multi-phased, multi- year sound land use strategy to guide the Department in integrating sound land use principles. I Included in this strategy are three phases (Education and Early Coordination, Program Modification and Land Use Strategy Implementation) and over eighty (80) action items that have been or will be considered for future implementation by PENNDOT and/or its planning partners. I This strategy and its information will serve as a foundation for PENNDOT’s integration of sound I land use into its programs, policies and procedures. I 2 In August 2000, the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services (Center) released the Intertzgenc!. LLiriti bse Telilli Sipplei7ienrLii-c. R2pot-t that highlights all Commonwealth programs and their impact on land use. The Report made the following four recommendations to state agencies for incorporating the principles of the state’s land use policy into their plans, projects, programs and policies: The Report asks that Commonwealth agencies develop an Implementation Plan to incorporate the recommendations into all agency programs and policies. The Report required implementation to commence on November 1, 2000. iMoreover, Commonwealth agencies are expected to provide status updates to the Center on program and policy review and plan implementation every year thereafter. The Implementation Plan must contain the following three (3) components: 1. Education of Agency Staff 2. Incorporation of Local Land Use Planning Into Agency Decisions 3. Identify Actions Likely to Have Significant Impact on Land Use. PENNDOT utilized its Sound Land Use Strategy as the foundation for developing and responding to both the E.O. 1999- 1, as well as the Implementation Plan requirement. PENNDOT has designed the following Implementation Plan to directly respond to the three (3) components outlined in the Supplementary Report. Importantly, each component includes a brief description of how PENNDOT will implement the component and a table of sound land use actions, including an action description. These sound land use actions have been categorized into Actions Completed, Actions Underway or Ongoing and Future Actions, to assist 3 I 1 PENNDOT in its implementation efforts. Actions Completed represent those sound land use initiatives that have been completed by the Department within the last year. Actions Underway or Ongoing represent sound land use initiatives that are under development or are regular, 1 ongoing functions of the Department that support sound land use implementation. Finally, Future Actions represent those sound land use initiatives that are scheduled for development in the near future (within 1 year). Additional actions will be incorporated into future plan updates, 1 as warranted. The following page lists the 8 actions completed during the November 1,2000 - October 3 1, I 200 1 Sound Land Use Implementation Plan timefiarne. These actions represent the foundation for PENNDOT’s response to Pennsylvania’s Growing Smarter initiative. 1 I I I 1 e 1 I I I I I i i 4 ,I 1 i I Land Use Coordinator In January 2001, a new full-time position was established in the Department’s Center for Program Development and Management to provide key staff support to coordinate and I implement land use related initiatives throughout the Department. Growing Smarter Conference PENNDOT supported the Governor’s Center for Local 8 Government Services’ March 200 1 “Growing Smarter” Conference with both staff and financial resources. The Department participated in three conference panels that I highlighted and promoted land use and transportation best practices. Application Procedures Modified Training was provided to District staff on modifications made I to the Highway Occupancy Permit application to consider local comprehensive plans and zoning. I I Traffic Calming In January 2001, the Department released Pennsylvania’s “Traffic Calrmng Handbook” (PENNDOT Publication 383) for municipalities to promote livable communities. Grant Application Procedures Modified The Highway Occupancy Permit, Transportation Enhancement and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank applications were modified to consider local comprehensive plans and zoning. Greenways Partnership Program The Pennsylvania Greenways Partnershp Commission developed .the Commonwealth’s Greenway Plan entitled “Pennsylvania Greenways: An Action Plan for Creating Connections” in June 2001. Congestion Management Corridors Thirty-six corridors have been nominated for the Congested Corridor Improvement Program. As of September 200 1, the Department has identified four early-action corridors to be studied. I I Identifhng Actions Likely to Have a Significant Impact on Land Use I District Engineers’ Survey on Significant Issues PENNDOT’s 11 Districts were surveyed to establish a database of potential projects andor issues that may lead to I significant impacts on land use. 5 'I I I I I APPENDIX G I PADEP POLICY FOR CONSIDERATION OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND ZONING ORDINANCES 1 I I I I 1 1 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION II POLICY OFFICE I DOCUMENT ID: 012-0200-001 TITLE: Policy for Consideration of Local Comprehensive Plans and Zoning I Ordinances in DEP Review of Permits for Facilities and Infrastructure EFFECTIVE DATE: June 8,2002 I AUTHORITY: Act 247 of 1968, as reenacted and amended by Act 170 of 1998, known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. $10101 et seq., as amended by Acts 67, 68 and 127 of 2000. Pertinent sections include Article VI, section 619.2 and Article XI, section 1105(a)(2). I Act 14 of 1984 [71 P.S. Section 510-5, (Adm. Code Section 1905-A). Cooperation with Municipalities]. I POLICY: The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has amended its permit review process to consider, and under certain conditions rely upon, comprehensive planning and zoning ordinances in our decision making process on authorizations related to facilities and infrastructure. I This document is a draft substantial revision to the current policy in place. PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to provide direction and guidance to DEP staff, permit I applicants and local and county governments for the implementation of Acts 67,68 and 127 of 2000 I in the administration of current DEP programs to avoid or minimize conflict with local land use decisions. This policy guidance addresses how DEP considers comprehensive planning and zoning ordinances in DEP’s decision making process concerning the permitting of facilities and I infrastructure; and when DEP relies upon comprehensive planning and zoning ordinances in DEP’s decision-making process concerning the permitting of facilities and infrastructure. I APPLICABILITY: DEP will apply this policy where it has regulatory and decision making discretion pursuant to legal authority and through the administration of DEP programs and regulations. This policy applies to DEP staff and applicants for certain DEP authorizations. I Specifically, it applies to proposed projects for construction of facilities or infrastructufe as listed in . Appendix A of this policy. I This policy only applies to counties and local municipalities covered under the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC.) The MPC does not apply to first and second class cities (Philadelphia and I Pittsburgh) or first class counties (Philadelphia.) DEP’s authority to rely on land use plan and zoning ordinance information in its permit decision making only applies to those projects located in areas of the state that meet conditions described in I any of the following three categories: 11 1) Under Section 619.2 (a) of the MPC: A) The municipality is located in a county where there is a county I comprehensive plan; and I DEP ID #012-0200-001/ June 8,2002 / Page I I I B) The municipality has adopted a comprehensive plan or is a part of a multi- municipal comprehensive plan; and I C) The county or municipality has enacted zoning ordinances; and D) The municipal zoning ordinance, the municipal comprehensive plan and I county comprehensive plan are generally consistent as defined by Section 107 of the MPC. I 2) Under Section 619.2 (c) of the MPC: The municipality has adopted a joint zoning ordinance. I~ 3) Under Section 1105 of the MPC: I The municipality has entered into an implementing cooperative agreement and adopted zoning ordinances as described in Sections 1104 and 1105 of the MPC. I DISCLAIMER: The policies and procedures outlined in this guidance are intended to supplement existing requirements. Nothing in the policies or procedures shall affect regulatory requirements. I The policies and procedures herein are not an adjudication or regulation. There is no intent on the part of DEP to give the rules in these policies that weight or deference. This document establishes the fkamework within which DEP will exercise its administrative discretion in the future. DEP reserves the discretion to deviate from this policy statement if circumstances warrant. 1 PAGE LENGTH: 17 pages I LOCATION: Volume 1, Tab 5B I. GENERAL INFORMATION I A. Acts 67,68 and 127 of 2000 (Acts 67,68 and 127) amend the Municipalities Planning Code to provide new tools for local governments to plan for and manage I growth. Section 1105 of Act 67 of 2000 and Section 619.2 of Act 68 directs that state agencies “. .. shall consider and may rely upon comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances when reviewing applications for the funding or permitting of I infrastructure or facilities.” B. DEFINITIONS: 1 “Authorizations” are approvals given by the department to undertake a proposed project as required by state statute or regulation. These include permits, plan I approvals, certificates, licenses and registrations. “Comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances” are county, municipal or multi- 1 municipal comprehensive plans adopted under the MPC and zoning ordinances . adopted under the MPC. I DEP ID #012-0200-001/ June 8,2002 / Page 2 I I A “Designated Growth Area” is a region within a county or counties described in a municipal or multi-municipal plan that preferably includes and surrounds a city, borough, or village and within which residential and mixed use development is permitted or planned for at densities of one unit to the acre or more, commercial, industrial and institutional uses are permitted or planned for and public infrastructure I services are provided or planned for. “eFACTS” is the Environment, Facility, Application, Compliance Tracking System, I developed to combine electronic data from legacy systems into one department-wide database to provide the means for a holistic view of the clients and sites (including I facilities) that DEP regulates. “Facilities” are buildings and other structures. I The “General Information Form” (GIF) is a multi-page form used for most DEP applications. Its purpose is to facilitate coordination between different types of applications for the same project, to provide specific information that facilitates the entry of data into the eFACTS system, and collect other necessary information. A I full application for a particular DEP authorization will generally consist of a GIF and additional forms related to the particular permit or other authorization. I “Infrastructure” is permanent structures for transportation, sewer and water facilities, schools, parks, greenways and open space, electric and gas delivery systems and I telecommunications networks. I 11. AFFECTED AUTHORIZATIONS A. To determine which permit authorizations are covered by this policy, applicants need to answer two questions: 1) Is the authorization on the list found in Appendix A of I this document; and 2) If it is an air program authorization, does the permit authorize the construction of facilities outside the an existing permitted area? These questions are asked of applicants on DEP’s General Information Form (GIF) which is a I required component of most DEP permit authorization applications. Section 3(A) discusses the GIF in more detail. I The list provided in Appendix A of this document is based primarily upon the definition of “facilities” and “infrastructure” found in section I(B) of this policy. . Any authoezation not appearing on the list is not required to undergo the land use I review outlined in this policy. B. Permits-by-rule are not subject to the requirements of this policy. By definition, permits-by-rule are for facilities or activities that have a minor impact on the I environment and therefore land use. Only one General Permit program, DEP’s General Permit for stormwater construction activities (PAG-2), is covered by this policy with the exception of PAG-2 activities related to oil and gas wells. This exclusion exists because it is unlikely that oil and gas production activities will change current land use and access roads that may result are usually those that would not typically support increased residential, commercial or other development. All DEP ID #012-0200-001 / June 8,2002 /Page 3 I other General Permit programs are not covered at this time. In the hture, DEP may consider the feasibility of integrating land use considerations pursuant to Acts 67,68 and 127, into other General Permit programs on a case-by case basis. I C. Authorizations under the Sewage Facilities Act and sewage planning program (Act 537), are not included in the list of affected authorizations. The current 1 consideration of land use within the 537 program already meets the intent of Acts 67 & 68. For that reason, reviews in the Act 537 planning program at this time will continue unchanged. For a description of the Act 537 program and its related land use I process, see the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (35 P.S. Sections 750.1-750-20), Section 5, Official Plans Subsection (d)( l), (2), (4), (9,(8), Section 7(b)(4), Section 10 (l), (2), (3) and Title 25, Chapter 71, Administration of Sewage Facilities Program. I The following specific sections of Chapter 71 relate to coordination with local land use and other plans, how Act 537 Official plans and Official plan revisions must consider comments from appropriate official planning agencies at the local and county I level and how sewage alternatives must be evaluated for consistency with respect to comprehensive plans: 71.31(b) I 71.21(a)(3)(iv) 0 71.21(a)(S)(i)(A & D) 71.2 l(a)(5)(ii) I D. Permit applications for railroad facilities and operations are not subject to the requirements of this policy because these facilities and operations are not subject to I local land use control. The local regulation of railroad facilities and operations by local governments is preempted by the federal Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995,49 U.S.C. Section 1050l(b). I 111. LAND USE REVIEW PROCESS The land use review process established by this policy is designed to assist DEP in meeting I its legal obligation under sections 619.2 and 1 105 of the MPC. The land use review policy applies to affected authorizations listed in Appendix A that were received on or after August 21,2000, the effective date of Acts 67, 68 & 127. I The land use review process has two major components: 1) The inclusion of land’use questions as part of the permit application process (Le. on the DEP GIF or as part of the I permit application form in programs that do not use the GIF) and 2) An opportunity for municipal and county comment to DEP on the accuracy of a permit applicant’s answers to the referenced land use questions. These two components are addressed individually below. 1 A. New Land Use Questions in General Information Form (GIF) I DEP’s General Information Form is a required component of most DEP permit authorization applications. That form has been revised in order to accommodate the new land use review process. An excerpt of the GIF that includes the new land use questions is provided in B Appendix C. The “Project Information” Section of the GIF has been amended with the following questions to include the land use review process: I DEP ID #012-0200-001/ June 8,2002 / Page 4 I I I 1) Is this application for an authorization type on the list of authorizations affected by the land use policy? I (For referenced list, see Appendix A attached to GIF instructions) 2) If you are applying for an air program authorization, does the permit . I authorize the construction of facilities outside an existing permitted area? 3). Have you attached or submitted municipal and county “early opt-out” I approval letters for the project? If yes, attach letters. If no, complete the “Land Use Question” section of the GIF. I These questions help the applicant determine if the permit authorization they are seeking is covered by the land use policy. It also provides for an “Early Opt-Out” option described in 1 more detail in Section B(3) of this policy. If applicant answers “no’, to either questions #1 or #2 above, then they do not need to continue with the land use review process outlined by this policy and the additional GIF I questions below. If applicant answers “yes” to both questions #I and #2 above, then applicant must answer the additional GIF questions below or, if they wish, choose the “early I opt-out” option. 1. Is there a municipal comprehensive plan(s)? Yes or No. 2. Is there a county comprehensive plan(s)? Yes or No. I 3. Is there a multi-municipal or multi-county comprehensive plan(s)? Yes or No. 4. Is the proposed project consistent with these plan(s)? Yes or No. If no plan(s) exist, answer “yes”. 5. Is there a municipal zoning ordinance(s)? Yes or No. I 6. Is there a joint municipal zoning ordinance? Yes or No. 7. Will the proposed project require a zoning approval (e.g. special exception, conditional approval, rezoning, variance) Yes or No. I If zoning approval has already been received attach documentation. 8. Are any zoning ordinances that are applicable to this project currently the subject of any type of legal proceeding? I 9. Will the project be located on a site that is being or has been remediated under DEP’s Land Recycling Program? 10. Wili tie project result in reclamation of abandoned mine lands through remining or as part of DEP’s RECLAIM PA Program? 11. Will the project be located in an agricultural security area or an area protected under an agricultural conservation easement? 12. Will the project be located in a Keystone Opportunity Zone or Enterprise Development Area? 13. Will the project be located in a Designated Growth Area as defined by the Municipalities Planning Code? Answers to questions #9-13 above are for informational and tracking purposes only and will not be used as a basis for a permit decision under this policy. Information for answering questions #9 and #10 should be able to be obtained from the appropriate DEP regional or district mining office respectively. For information relative to question #12 direct questions DEP ID #012-0200-001 /June 8,2002 / Page 5 I to the Department of Community and Economic Development Customer Service Center at 1-800-379-7448. The local municipal and/or county should be able to provide information for questions # 1 1 or # 13 as they typically make these determinations. The term “Designated 1 Growth Area” is defined on page 3 of this policy. The questions in the GIF discussed above apply only to applications for authorizations on I the affected authorizations list in Appendix A. When an applicant uses a GIF for an application type not listed in Appendix A, the applicant is not required to complete the Land Use Section of the GIF. I As part of their GIF/application package, applicants are also encouraged to submit copies of local land use approvals and evidence of compliance with local comprehensive plans and I zoning ordinances. For more information on how to complete the GIF, including .the new land questions, I consult the “GIF Instructions” provided DEP’s on website at \vw\c..dep.state.p>a(directLINK: “Land Use Reviews”). Applicants can also download the GLF from this location. I In programs where the GIF is not used, the program specific permit application form will be revised to include the same land use questions as those added to the GIF. I The DEP eFACTS system now accommodates the new land use questions contained in the GIF. All appropriate information from the GIF dealing with land use should be entered into eFACTS by DEP program staff already assigned to manage eFACTS data. I B. MunicipaVCounty Notice and Opportunity to Comment 1 As part of the land use review process, DEP is specifically inviting affected municipalities and counties to submit comments to DEP related to pending permit applications and their relationship to comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances I under Acts 67,68 and 127. This will be achieved by building upon the existing Act 14 of 1984 (Act 14) municipal/county notice requirement that is currently in place for most DEP permit programs. Act 14 requires that notice of certain permit I applications be sent to the municipality and to the county. This notice letter has been broadened as shown below to provide an opportunity for local and county government to identify any potential land use conflicts associated with a proposed I project before DEP completes its review of a permit application. Act 14 notices for applications on the affected authorizations list in Appendix A must be amended by permit applicants to include the following language: I “Acts 67, 68 and 127, which amended the Municipalities Planning Code, direct state agencies to consider comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances 1 when reviewing applications for permitting of facilities or infi-astructure, and spec& that state agencies may rely upon comprehensiveplans and zoning ordinances under certain conditions as described in Sections 61 9.2 and I105 1 of the Municipalities Planning Code. Enclosed is a General Information Form (GIF) we have completedfor this project. DEP invites you to review the attached GIF and comment on the accuracy of answers provided with 1 DEP ID #O 12-0200-001 / June 8,2002 / Page 6 1 I regard to land use aspects of this project; please be specijic to DEP and focus on the relationship to zoning ordinances. Ifyou wish to submit I comments to DEP to become part of a land use review of this project, you must respond within 30 days to the DEP regional ofice referenced in this letter Ifthere are no land use comments received by the end of the comment I period, DEP will assume that there are no substantive land use conflicts and proceed with the normal application review process. For more information about this land use review process, visit DEP ’s website at ~~.~~.~~...~t~it~~.t~~i.ii.~ I (directLINK: “Land Use Reviews ’y For all authorization types listed in Appendix A that do not normally use an Act 14 I notice (e.g. public water supply and mining permits), a similar notice letter to the municipality and to the county that contains the completed GIF or other program specific permit application forms that answer the new land use questions must be I sent. For this purpose, a sample notice letter is attached as Appendix B. For questions on the notice requirement for programs that do not use the Act 14 notice, contact the appropriate regional or district mining office. When sending notice letters, a return receipt and copy of notification letter must be submitted to DEP as proof of municipal and county notification. All notices to a I municipality should be sent to the municipal secretary. All notices to a county should be sent to the county commissioners with a copy to the county planning office. I The municipality and county have 30 days from the date of receipt of a notice letter to respond to DEP. If Act 14 allows for a longer comment period for a particular application (e.g. municipal waste landfills), the longer period will apply. DEP staff will conduct technical reviews concurrently with the municipaVcounty comment period. DEP may consider municipal and county comments concerning land use at any time during the review process, but DEP staff should not take a final permit action before the initial 30-day period has ended. In cases where the comment period extends beyond the issue date suggested by the Department’s Money Back I Guarantee (MBG) program, the MBG clock will stop until the comment period ends. When DEP has the authority to do so, it is the Department’s intent to rely only on comments received from municipal and county officials or their designated planning I agencies to determine whether a project may conflict with comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. ~I If there are no land use comments received at the end of the comment period, DEP will assume that there is no substantive land use conflict and proceed with the normal application review process. If projects involve multiple permits and are of a I complex nature, DEP will consider, on a case-by-case basis, granting an extension in the comment deadline if requested by a municipality or county. I DEP will work with the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services and local government associations to ensure that local governments are aware of this opportunity to review DEP permit forms (e.g. GIF) and provide comments in relation I to land use plans and zoning. I DEP ID #012-0200-001/ June 8,2002 / Page 7 I I C. . Projects with Multiple Permits I If permit applicants choose to submit an application package that includes one GIF and all necessary permits for the project at one time, the land use review process called for in this policy occurs only one time. If applicants choose to submit I applications for each individual permit, the land use review process, including the municipalkounty notice requirement, occurs each time that permit application is submitted. Where feasible, the Department would like to encourage applicants to I submit all necessary applications at the same time. In this situation, only a single notice letter, comment period and land use review would need to be done. However, with certain phased projects, we understand that this may not be possible. I D. Projects that Include Facilities and Infrastructure in More Than One I Municipality or County If a project involves permits for facilities and infrastructure in more than one I municipality or county, applicants must ensure that each jurisdiction involved receives the municipalkounty notice and has an opportunity to comment on whether their comprehensive plans and zoning are consistent with the proposed project. I E. Early Opt-out Option Through Submission of Municipal and County Approval Letters 1 To exercise this option, an applicant must submit with the GIF andor permit application, approval letters signed by the elected officials of the municipal governing body and county or by planning agencies specifically designated by an I action of the elected officials. The letters should indicate that the project is not inconsistent with comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances and all required zoning approvals have been secured. If these letters can be obtained from the I municipal and county governments involved, then the applicant does not need to fill out the questions in the “Land Use Information” section of the GIF nor continue further with the land use review process outlined by this policy. I If the project will be located in more than one municipality or county, such approval letters must be submitted from each municipal and county governing body involved. I The applicant should note selection of this option when they fill out the GIF and a question has been added to the GIF to reflect this. I If this option is used and an Act 14 notice is required for the authorization in question, the applicant does not need to include in that letter the specific land use I review language contained in Section 111.2 (relating to MunicipaVCounty Notice) of this policy. If there is no Act 14 notice requirement for that authorization, no additional land use notice is required by this policy if the option for the early opt-out I is exercised. I DEP ID #O 12-0200-00 1 / June 8,2002 / Page 8 I I IV. CONSIDERING COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND ZONING ORDINANCES WHEN ‘I MAKING PERMIT DECISIONS A. Acts 67,68 and 127 of 2000 require state agencies to consider comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances when reviewing applications for the permitting of I infrastructure or facilities. The purpose of DEP’s review is to avoid or minimize conflicts between department permit decisions and local land use decisions. I As interpreted by state agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction, including DEP, the “shall consider” language requires consideration of comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. The consideration phase includes verification that DEP has I authority to rely on planning and zoning in its permit decision as discussed in Section V of this policy. It also includes asking specific land use questions of permit applicants and reviewing all of the information received from both the permit I applicant and local municipality and county. When reviewing permit applications, DEP will consider the information provided by I the applicant in the GIF and materials related to land use plans and zoning ordinances submitted by the applicant. DEP will also consider information on land use plans and zoning ordinances contained in comment letters received from the municipality and county officials. Comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances in I effect up until the date that DEP makes the permit decision will be those considered by the Department. I Even though DEP will consider information submitted by the applicant and that provided in local / county comment, DEP can only rely, or base a permit decision, upon this information in certain circumstances as described in more detail in Section I V of this policy. B. A potential conflict arises when DEP staff receives a response letter from the county I or local municipality indicating that the project may conflict with comprehensive plans or zoning ordinances or if the applicant submits information on the GIF that indicates that there is such a conflict. If potential conflicts are identified, DEP I permit reviewers shall immediately notify the DEP Policy Office and forward to the office the original notice letter with return receipt, the GIF and any comment letter(s) II received from municipai and iocai officials The DEP Policy Office will do the following when information referenced above is I received from DEP permit staff: Review all information received regarding land use conflict; . Determine whether DEP has the authority to base permit decision on I comprehensive planning and zoning; . Determine whether to notify or involve other state agencies, including the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services; I Contact DEP Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) to obtain legal review; and . Provide guidance to appropriate permitting staff on potential impact of land I use review on permit decision-making. I DEP ID #012-0200-001 / June 8,2002 / Page 9 I I Contact information for the Policy Office: DEP, Policy Office, P.O. Box 2063, 15h Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, Hamsburg, PA 17 105-2063. Telephone: 7 17-783-8727, Fax: 71 7-783-8470. I In general, the Policy Office and Office of Chief Counsel should complete their review within 30 days of notification of the potential conflict by DEP staff or sooner. This review will take place concurrently with technical reviews done by permit review staff. A final permit action should not be taken by DEP until the Policy Office and Office of Chief Counsel complete their portions of the review process outlined above. V. RELYING UPON COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND ZONING A. DEP’s authority to rely on land use plan and zoning ordinance information in its permit decision making only applies to those projects located in areas of the state that meet conditions described in any of the following three categories: 1) Under Section 619.2 (a) of the MPC: a) The municipality is located in a county where there is a county comprehensive plan; and b) The municipality has a comprehensive plan or is a part of a multi- municipal comprehensive plan; and c) The county or municipality has enacted zoning ordinances; and d) The municipal zoning ordinances, the local municipal comprehensive plan and the county comprehensive plan are generally consistent with each other as defined in Section 107 of the MPC. 2) Under Section 619.2 (c) of the MPC: The municipality has adopted a joint ordinance. 1 3) Under Section 1105 of the MPC: I The municipality has entered into an implementing cooperative agreement and adopted zoning ordinances as described in Sections 1104 and 1105 of the MPC I Acts 67,68 and 127 of 2000 do not specifically define what the term “rely upon” means. State agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction including DEP interpret the “may rely upon” statutory language to grant DEP discretion as to how to rely upon planning and zoning in its permit decision making. When DEP’s authority exists to rely upon planning and zoning information and conflicts have been identified, DEP has chosen to rely upon this information in several ways. DEP can deny an application, approve the application or put a special condition on a permit. However, DEP does not interpret the law to authorize DEP “to rely” solely upon a comprehensive plan in situations where the zoning ordinance would not preclude the proposed activity. Because comprehensive plans do not have the force of law as DEP ID #O 12-0200-00 1 / June 8,2002 / Page 10 zoning ordinances do, when DEP has the authority to rely on comprehensive planning and zoning it will place more emphasis on conflicts with zoning ordinances. In order to determine if planning and zoning is “generally consistent”, DEP will send a letter to the municipality involved and request that they make this determination. If ‘I the municipality fails to make a determination within 30 days of receipt of this request, comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances in question will be deemed consistent. I Where a municipality or county has identified a conflict with a project located in a municipality that does not meet the above requirements, DEP cannot rely upon the information provided by the municipality or county when making permitting I decisions. DEP will notify the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services that the county or municipality has concerns with the project but that the comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances do not meet the requirements of Acts I 67,68 and 127. Consistent with existing regulatory authority, DEP may also choose to evaluate the I extent to which a project would provide a public health or environmental benefit, and whether the project will comply with other applicable environmental laws and I regulations. B. Preemption of Local Authority to Regulate Certain Activities Acts 67,68 and 127 recognize the distinction between regulating certain activities as particular regulated activities, and the authority of local municipality to enact zoning ordinances which impose zoning restrictions on a wide range of activities. Prior to the enactment of Acts 67,68 and 127, local municipalities were preempted from regulating certain activities such as mining activities. The local municipality, nevertheless, retained the authority under the MPC to establish valid zoning requirements for such activities. Acts 67, 68 and 127 maintain the status quo concerning these activities. Local municipalities can establish valid zoning requirements that can be imposed on these activities where state law preempts local regulation of these activities. Acts 67, 68 and 127 of 2000 address local government’s zoning authority to regulate certain activities or resources such as mineral extraction, agricultural operations, allocation of water resources and forestry in several ways. First, Act 68 preserves preexisting state preemption of local regulation of certain activities. Second, in those I areas of local regulation not preempted, Act 68 establishes that comprehensive plans shall be consistent with and may not exceed requirements established under certain identified state environmental statutes currently regulating these activities or resources. Finally, for mineral extraction Acts 68 provides that zoning ordinances shall provide for reasonable development of minerals in each local municipality. The authority of local government to regulate in these statutorily identified areas is limited. Local government, however, retains zoning authority in these areas under the MPC, and DEP will still need to assess conflicts in these areas arising under the zoning ordinances enacted under the MPC. DEP ID #012-0200-001/ June 8,2002 / Page 11 I I A DV APPENDIX A AUTHORIZATION/APPLICATIONTYPES AFFECTED BY I DEP’S LAND USE POLICY The following permitlauthorization types are affected by DEP’s Land Use Policy. The last column is for crosswalk to DEP’s eFACTS data system codes and is added for DEP staff reference or for electronic I permit submissions. AIR QUALITY PROGRAM I Authorization/Permit Type & Description eFACTS Codes Major Facility Plan Approval - I Case-by-Case MACT MASATINEW Hazardous Air Pollutant Standard Part 6 1 MFAPINEW MACT Air Toxics Part 63 MAATINEW I New Facility Review Prevention of Significant Deterioration MNSRPINEW 0 New Source Performance Standard MFSPINE W New Source Review Non-Attainment MNSRNINEW I 0 State Regulation MFSIUNEW Minor Facility Plan Approval - 0 Hazardous Air Pollutant Standard Part 6 1 MISATNEW I 0 MACT Air Toxics MSATMfNEW New Source Performance Standard MISPSINEW 0 State Regulation MSSRINEW I COAL MINING PROGRAM Authorization/Permit Type & Description eFACTS Codes I Preparation-Processing Plant Permit PINEW Refuse Disposal Permit RDINEW Surface Mining Permit SMfNEW I Underground Mining Permit (surface facilities only) UM/NEW I AuthorizatiordPerrnit Type & Description eFACTS 1 Codes Bluestone Surface Mining Permit BSINEW I‘ Large Surface Mining Permit (includes underground mining, surface facilities) LSMMEW Small Surface Mining Permit NSMMEW OIL & GAS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 1 AuthorizatiordPermitType & Description eFACTS Codes I Drilling or Altering a Well (Disposal Wells Only) W NPDES Permit Industrial Wastewater Discharge Minor 8NIWMMEW VPDES Permit Stormwater-Construction (Individual) 8NSCiNEW I VPDES Permit S tormwater Industrial Site Runoff (Individual) 8NSIR/NEW I DEP ID #O 12-0200-00 1 / June 8,2002 / Page 12 I 1 Water Obstruction & Encroachment Permit 8W 0 JPfNE W Water Quality Mgmt Part 11, Industrial Wastewater Facility 8W2IWfNEW I AuthorizatiodPermit Type & Description eFACTS Codes I I 1 WASTE MANAGEMENT - MUNICIPAL WASTE PROGRAM AuthorizatiodPermit Type & Description eFACTS I Codes ConstructiodDemolition Landfill Permit (Alternative Project) 0 (new facility) CDLA/NEW * I CDL/MODEO 0 Expansion or Increased Capacity/ADV/MDV/Acreage * Municipal Landfill I 0 (new facility) LmEW* 0 Expansion or Increased Capacity/ADV/MDV/Acreage . L/MODEO * MW Composting Permit CNEW I Resource Recovery & Other Processing Permit RRONEW Transfer Station Permit TSNEW WASTE MANAGEMENT - RESIDUAL WASTE PROGRAM I AuthorizationRermit Type & Description eFACTS Codes Landfill-Class I, I1 or 111 Permit (commercial or captive) I 0 (new facility) RL3mEW 0 (major modification for new acreage) RL3MOD Commercial Landfill-Class I, I1 or 111 Permit (Alternative Project) 1 RL3APINEW 0 (new facility) * RL3AP/MOD I 0 (major modification for new acreage) * Disposal Impoundment-Class I or I1 Permit DI2NEW * Processing and/or Incinerator Permit PINEW 1 RW Composting Permit RC/NEW Transfer Station Permit WASTE MANAGEMENT - STORAGE TANKS PROGRAM 1 AuthorizationRermit Type & Description eFACTS Codes Site Specific Installation Permit SSIP/NEW 1 1 DEP ID #012-0200-001 /June 8,2002 /Page 13 I I I I c AuthorizatiodPermit Type & Description eFACTS Codes I Concentrated Animal Feed Operations Individual NPDES Permit NCAF/NEW NPDES Permit for New & Existing Industrial Discharger, Major NIWMNNEW NPDES Permit Industrial Wastewater Discharge Minor NIWMfNEW I NPDES Permit Stormwater Industrial Site Runoff (Individual) NSIIUNEW I I I I I 'I I I I I * If a different project timeline is negotiated, a special eFACTS code will be established. I -I I DEP ID #012-0200-001/ June 8,2002 / Page 14 I I Appendix B z Sample Notice Letter To Municipality and County For Permits That Do Not Use Act 14 Notice I Dear (Municipal Secretary:) or Dear (County Commissioners:) I The purpose of this notice is to inform you that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has received the following application(s): I Permit Application Type(s): 1 Applicant Contact: Project Location: I Project Description: 1 DEP Office Contact Information: Acts 67, 68 and 127 of 2000, which amended the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) to direct state I agencies to consider comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances when reviewing applications for permitting of facilities or infrastructure, and specify that state agencies may rely upon comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances under certain conditions as described in Sections 6 19.2 I and 1105 of the MPC. Enclosed is a General Information Form (GIF) completed by the applicant for this project. r DEP invites you to review the attached GIF and comment on the. DEP invites you to review the attached GIF and comment on the accuracy of answers provided with regard to land use aspects of this project; please be specific to DEP and focus on relationship to zoning ordinances. If you wish I to submit comments to DEP to become part of a land use review of this project, you must respond within 30 days to the DEP regional office referenced in this letter. If there are no land use comments received by the end of the comment period, DEP will assume that there are no I substantive land use conflicts and proceed with the normal application review process. For more information about this land use review process, please visit \\i\vw.dep.state.pa.us 1 (directLINK: Land Use Reviews.) Sincerely, I cc: /county planning agencies I I- DEP ID #O 12-0200-001 / June 8,2002 / Page 15 I I I Appendix C I Excerpt from the General Information Form I I Is this application for an authorization type on the list of 0 Yes 0 No authorizations affected by the land use policy? I Note If “Yes”, continue with Question 2 below. If “No”, skip Questions 2 & 3 below as well as the following Land Use Information section. For referenced list, see Appendix A attached to the GIF Instructions. I If you are applying for an Air program authorization, does the permit 0 Yes 0 No authorize the construction of facilities outside an existing permitted area? I Note If “Yes” to Question 1 above and “No” to Question 2, skip Question 3 below as well as the following Land Use Information section. If “Yes” to both Questions 1 & 2, continue with Question 3 below. 1 Have you attached or submitted municipal and county ‘Early Opt 0 Yes 0 No Out’ approval letters for the project? Note If “Yes” to Question 3, skip the following Land Use Information section. This should only I be checked “Yes” if applicant is choosing the early opt-out option. Required approval letters described in the GIF Checklist and Instructions should be attached. If “No” to Question 3, continue with the following Land Use Information section. I LAND USE INFORMATION i -Note: Applicants are encouraged to submit copies of local land use approvals or other evidence of compliance with local comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. I 1. Is there a municipal comprehensive plan(s)? 0 Yes 0 No 2. Is there a county comprehensive plan(s)? 0 Yes 0 No 3. Is there a multi-municipal or multi-county comprehensive plan? 0 Yes 0 No I 4. Is the proposed project consistent with these plans? If no plan(s) 0 Yes 0 No exists, answer “Yes”. 5. Is there a municipal zoning crdinance(s)? 0 Yes a No I 6. Is there a joint municipal zoning ordinance(s)? 0 Yes 0 No 7. Will the proposed project require a zoning approval (e.g., special 0 Yes 0 No exception, conditional approval, re-zoning, variance)? If zoning I approval has already been received, attach documentation. 8. Are any zoning ordinances that are applicable to this project 0 Yes 0 No currently the subject of any type of legal proceeding? I 9. Will the project be located on a site that has been or is being 0 Yes 0 No remediated under DEP’s Land Recycling Program? 10. Will the project result in reclamation of abandoned mine lands 0 Yes 0 No I through re-mining or as part of DEP’s Reclaim PA Program? 11. Will the project be located in an agricultural security area or an area 0 Yes 0 NO 1 protected under an agricultural conservation easement? I DEP ID #O 12-0200-001 / June 8,2002 / Page 16 I I 12. Will the project be located in a Keystone Opportunity Zone or 0 Yes 0 No Enterprise Development Area? 13. Will the project be located in a Designated Growth Area as defined by 0 Yes 0 No I the Municipalities Planning Code? I DEP ID #012-0200-001/ June 8,2002 / Page 17 I I I I APPENDIX H PADCED I GOVERNOR’S CENTER FOR LOCAL GOVT. SERVICES, GROWING SMARTER TOOLKIT: I CATALOG OF FINANCIAL & TECHNICAL RESOURCES I I I I I I I I I I r..._ - ... , .,. b .' 5-. j_ I . i I I I 1 Growing Smarter 1 Toolkit II) Catalog of Financial I and Technical Resources I I . -. . - . , ~u 'L? . . I Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Mark Schweiker, Governor I www.s ta te. pa.us Department of Community and Economic Development Sam McCullough, Secretav i w.inven t pa.com Growing Smarter Toolkit Catalog of Financial and Technical Resources First Edition April 2002 Comments or inquiries on the subject matter of this publication should be addressed to: Governor’s Center for Local Government Services Department of Community and Economic Development 400 North Street, 4‘hFloor Commonwealth Keystone Building Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17 120-0225 (717) 787-8158 1-888-223-6837 E-mail: [email protected] Additional copies of this publication may be obtained from: Governor’s Center for Local Government Services Department of Community and Economic Development 400 North Street, 41h Floor Commonwealth Keystone Building Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0225 (717) 783-0176 Publication is available electronically via the Internet: Access www.inventpa.com Select “Communities in PA,” select “Local Government Services,” then select “Publications.” No liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained in this publication. Laws may be amended or court rulings made that could affect a particular procedure, issue or interpretation. The Department I of Community & Economic Development assumes no responsibility for errors and omissions nor any liability for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. Please contact your local solicitor for legal advise. I Preparation and printing of this edition of the Growing Smarter Toolkit was financed from appropriations of the 1 General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Copyright 0 2002, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, all rights reserved. 4 ‘bI Introduction Grant money or technical assistance can stretch your tax dollars and help small budgets go the distance. But, you must be patient and realistic about the funding and assistance that is available, just as you must be patient I and realistic about achieving your community visions and goals. Each year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes available millions of dollars in financial assistance. This does not even account for the millions of dollars in human resources devoted to the technical assistance 1 programs that support grant funding, education and training. This catalog should help you find and access those resources so your community can benefit from them. 1 I How to Use This Catalog This catalog lists the current technical and financial It is that simple. Identify programs that may be rele- assistance programs available in Pennsylvania. vant to your project, then pick up the telephone, and I Each listing should provide you basic information call the contact listed. Most resources listed in this on the program and a point of contact for more catalog direct you to a website for even more infor- information. The programs are listed under general mation and applications. But, if you can’t find the categories in the table of contents. For convenience, information you are looking for or need, the Gover- I each program is also cross-referenced in the index at nor’s Center for Local Government Services is the back of the catalog. available to help. You can call them at 1-888-2CENTER. At the beginning of each section, different state agencies or commissions are highlighted. These agencies and commissions work to support the tech- nical or financial assistance programs either directly or indirectly. At times, these are the agencies that make the programs you need possible. You should become familiar with them and how they can help you. Many of Pennsylvania’s programs are designed to meet the diverse needs of our Commonwealth. Some programs combine agency interests and resources. And so, to ensure that you find the resource you need, some programs are listed under several, appropriate categories. This doesn’t mean that a multi-listed program offers multiple sources of hnding to one applicant. Rather, it ensures that the information is accessible to you regardless of where you look for it. Table of Contents Farmland Preservation ...... 1 Financial Assistance Programs ...... 2 OpenSpacePreservation...... 7 Technical Assistance Programs ...... 8 Financial Assistance Programs ...... 8 Environmental Protection and Conservation ...... 11 Technical Assistance Programs ...... 12 Financial Assistance Programs .....: ...... 12 Infrastructure ...... 19 Technical Assistance Programs ...... 20 Financial Assistance Programs ...... 20 Transportation ...... 23 Technical Assistance Programs ...... -24 Financial Assistance Programs ...... 28 Historic Preservation ...... 33 Technical Assistance Programs ...... 34 Financial Assistance Programs ...... 34 UrbanRevitalization ...... 39 Financial Assistance Programs ...... 40 AffordableHousing ...... 43 Financial Assistance Programs ...... -44 Brownfield Restoration and Land Recycling ...... 47 Financial Assistance Programs ...... 48 Intergovernmental Cooperation ...... 51 Financial Assistance ...... 52 Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania's Growing Smarter Initiatives Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture ...... 1 Pennsylvania Rural Development Council ...... 1 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ...... 7 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ...... 1471. Pennsylvania Utilities Commission ...... 19 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ...... 23 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission ...... 33 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development ...... 39 Pennsylvania Department of Revenue ...... '...... 39 Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency ...... 43 Governor's Center for Local Government Services ...... 51 Farmland Preservation Agriculture is the largest economic sector in Pennsylvania. Agricultural enterprises provide employment, personal income and taxes to local and regional economies. These enterprises use and conserve renewable natural resources and sustain and perpetuate our agricultural heritage. Farms and forests serve as important cultural resources, and their continued presence maintains Pennsylvania’s rural culture, lifestyles and traditional economy. Farmland Preservation Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania‘s Programs Growing Smarter Initiatives Financial Assistance Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture 0 Agricultural Security Areas The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) has worked to 0 Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement preserve farmland and agricultural production long before the princi: Purchase Program ples of Executive Order 1999-1 on Land Use directed state agencies to incorporate farmland preservation into their land use policies. With 0 Clean and Green Program more than 50,000 farms and 7.7 million acres of crop and pasture land, 0 Installment Purchase Pennsylvania farms produce food, create jobs and provide scenic open Agreement Pilot Program space, wildlife habitat, clean water and other environmental benefits. 0 Land Trust Reimbursement PDA’s programs support the Governor’s Growing Smarter Initiatives. Grant Program PDA’s participation on the Interagency Land Use Team helps local government officials and state agencies continue their efforts to keep 0 Next Generation Farmer Loan Pennsylvania’s farmland in agricultural production. Pennsylvania Rural Development Council Pennsylvania is distinguished to have the largest rural population of any state in the nation. The Pennsylvania Rural Development Council helps to support these rural communities maintain this distinction and position themselves as full partners in the changing world economy. The Pennsylvania Rural Development Council provides information to rural counties or those who have rural resources in their communities, and facilitates the efficient and effective use of existing and new resources between the federal, state, local, public and private sectors. A partner with the Interagency Sound Land Use Team, the Pennsylva- nia Rural Development Council supports the Growing Smarter Initia- tives and the agencies providing the resources in this catalog. For more information, contact: Pennsylvania Rural Development Council Phone: (717) 787-1954 Website: www.rura1pa.state.pa.w I J Program Sponsor: I Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Farmland Preservation Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of I Description of Program: Farmland Preservation Designating land as an Agricultural Security Area (ASA) is a tool for protecting farms and quality Description of Program: I farmland from the encroachment of non-agricultural The Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Ease- uses. Once designated as an ASA, a farmer's land is ment Purchase Program was developed to enable protected from nuisance ordinances enacted by local state and county governments to purchase agricul- I municipalities. When farmlbd is designated in an tural conservation easements (sometimes called ASA, additional levels of review are required for development rights) from owners of quality farm- projects that involve condemnation. land. I Program Requirements: Program Requirements: This is a voluntary program for farmers who meet In order to be chosen for easement purchase, an I the eligibility requirements. A combined minimum eligible farm must first be part of an Agricultural of 250 acres is required for the establishment of an Security Area (ASA). The farm is rated against ASA. An ASA may include non-adjacent farmland other eligible parcels according to specific criteria parcels of at least 10 acres or be able to produce related to the quality of the farmland, stewardship 1 $2,000 annually from the sale of agricultural prod- practices related to conservation, nutrient manage- ucts. ment and control of soil erosion and sedimentation and the likelihood of conversion from farmland to -- An ASA is a prerequisite for consideration under the other uses. State minimum requirements for the Easement Purchase Program. program can be found at: http://sites.state.pa.us/PA-ExecjAgricul- I Program Availability: ture/G2/apply. html. ASAs are designated only once every 7 years. However, new parcels of farmland may be added to Program Availability: I an established ASA at any time. Counties participating in the program have appointed agricultural'land preservation boards with Contact Information: a state board created to oversee the program. The I For more information, visit PDA's website at: state board is responsible for distribution of state http://sites.state.pa.us/PA-Exec/Agricul- fimds, approval and monitoring of county programs ture/bureaus/farmlandqrotectiodindex. htm and specific easement purchases. 1 Contact: Participating counties and county agricultural land Mary Bender, Director preservation board information is available online at Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture http://sites.state.pa.us/F'A-Exec/Agricul- a Bureau of Farmland Preservation ture/G2/list-of-contacts.html. Phone: (717) 783-3167 E-mail: [email protected] Contact Information: I Farmland Preservation applications are available from County Agricultural Land Preservation Boards. 2 4 A contact list is available online at: ation for the following tax year. http://sites.state.pa.us/PA-Exec/Agricul- For more information, visit PDA’s website at: ture/G2/list~of~contacts.html.The appropriate county administrator can provide assistance includ- http://sites.state.pa.us/PA-Exec/Agricul- ing information on application deadlines and ture/bureaus/farmlandqrotection/index.htm. requirements. Contact: Doug Wolfgang Contact: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Mary Bender, Director Bureau of Farmland Preservation Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Phone: (717) 783-3167, or by Bureau of Farmland Preservation E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (717) 783-3167 E-mail: [email protected] Installment Purchase Agreement Pilot Program Clean and Green Program Program Sponsor: Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Farmland Preservation Farmland Preservation Description of Program: Description of Program: The Installment Purchase Agreement P’ilot Program The “Clean and Green” program protects farmland, forestland and open space by taxing land according is a program whereby landowners may defer payment of capital gains taxes on an agriculture to its use rather than the prevailing market value. conservation easement purchase. The interest paid This is a voluntary program for landowners. over the life of the IPA is not subject to Federal or Pennsylvania State income taxation. Program Requirements: This voluntary program generally requires that the Program Requirements: landowner keep a 10-acre minimum in designated At the time a farmer applies to the county to sell an use (agricultural use, agricultural reserve and forest easement, the former will be asked to indicate a reserve). preference for direct (all-cash) or installment Parcels less than 10 acres and capable of producing purchase or some combination of the two. For any $2,000 annually from the sale of agricultural prod- installment purchase, the county and the farmer then ucts are eligible for the agriculture use designation. negotiate the terms of the transaction. An agree- ment of sale is submitted to the PA Department of Program Availability: Agriculture for approval. The program is administered at the local level by county tax assessment offices. Land taken out of the Program Availability: permitted use becomes subject to a rollback tax, The long-term installment purchase program is imposed for up to 7 years, and an interest penalty. available to farmers as an option when selling agri- cultural conservation easements. All program Contact Information: requirements for purchase of the easements must be met. To apply, landowners must contact their county tax assessment office for an application. The deadline Each person considering selling a development for application is June 1 of each year for consider- rights easement under this program must rely on I advice from their own tax or financial advisor to Program Requirements: evaluate the possible financial benefits of this trans- The program is limited to qualified land trusts only. action in light of individual circumstances, and to Land trusts must register with the State Board and 3 advise on IRS treatment of IPAs. shall be tax-exempt institutions and include the I Assistance with obtaining an advisor can be acquisition of agricultural conservation easements in obtained by contacting: their stated purpose. Michael W. Evanish, Manager The subject property must meet minimum criteria I Pennsylvania Farm Bureau published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. MSC Business Services Phone: (7 17) 76 1-2740 Program Availability: 1 E-mail: [email protected] The Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board is authorized to allocate up to $500,000 from Contact Information: the Supplemental Agricultural Conservation Ease- 1 For more information visit PDA’s website at: ment Purchase Account for reimbursement grants to http://sites.state.pa.uslPA-Exec/Agricul- be awarded to qualified land trusts. I ture/bureaus/farmlandqrotectionAPA.html. Funds available for grants under the Land Trust Applications may be obtained from a County Agri- Reimbursement Grant Program are available on a cultural Land Preservation Board. For a listing visit first-come, first-served basis until the funding is PDA’s website at: depleted. I http://sites.state.pa.usfPA-Exec/Agricul- ture/G2/list-of-contacts.html. Contact Information: I Contact: For more information, visit PDA’s website at: County Farmland Preservation Board or http://sites.state.pa.uslFA-Exec/Agricul- Mary Bender, Director ture/bureaus/farmlandqrotectioflandtrust. html. Bureau of Farmland Preservation c Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at Contact: Phone: (717) 783-3167 Sandra Robison E-mail: [email protected] Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture I Bureau of Farmland Preservation Phone: 717-783-3167 E-mail: [email protected]. 1 Land Trust Reimbursement Grant To register as a qualified land trust with the State Program Board to be eligible for reimbursement through this program, contact: I Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture The Bureau of Farmland Preservation Phone: (717) 783-3167 1 Description of Program: This program awards reimbursement grants to quali- fied land trusts. The program will reimburse quali- 1 fied land trusts up to $5,000 for expenses incurred in the acquisition of agricultural conservation ease- ments. These expenses include appraisal costs, legal I services, title searches, document preparation, title insurance, closing costs and survey costs. 4 4 Fees associated with the program vary between lend- ers and Industrial Development Authorities (IDAS). Fees are negotiated independent of the Pennsylvania Program Sponsor: Department of Agriculture. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Contact Information: Description of Program: For more information, visit PDA's website at: This program provides public assistance to new or http:Nsites.state.pa.usPA-Exec/Agricul- beginning farmers to purchase land, farm equipment, turelnex t-generation-loadindex. html. farm buildings and breeding livestock. Contact: The program uses federal tax-exempt mortgage Russell C. Redding financing to reduce a farmer's interest rate for capi- Deputy Secretary tal purchases. The program is used between a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture borrower and a lender for a loan to make a direct Phone: (717)-787-3418 purchase of farm and agricultural machinery and E-mail: [email protected] equipment. The tax-exempt interest income to the lender enables them to charge the borrower a lower interest rate. The interest income is exempt from federal, state and county taxes. Program Requirements: Eligible applicants are new or beginning farmers who meet the lender credit standards. Applicants must also be a permanent resident of Pennsylvania and at least 18 years of age. Each applicant will be required to document access to adequate working capital, farm equipment and livestock, if appropri- ate. Eligible applicants cannot have prior direct or indi- rect ownership interest in a substantial amount of land. Under this program, a substantial amount of land means a parcel that exceeds 30% of the median f3rm size in the county in which the land is.!ocated, . or which had at any time during ownership a fair market value in excess of $125,000. When the transaction is complete, the qualified applicant must be the sole owner and principle user. Program Availability: The maximum loan amount is $250,000 per person. However, the total loan proceeds allocated to the purchase price of used equipment may not exceed $62,500. The lender or the contract seller estab- lishes all loan terms and makes all credit decisions. Open Space Preservation Pennsylvania's natural resources are significant factors in our economic vitality, environmental health and quality of life. Greenways, waterways, wetlands and I other kinds of natural areas function as valuable resources for open space, wildlife habitat, water protection, recreation and tourism. I I Open Space Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania's Preservation Programs Growing Smarter Initiatives I Technical Assistance Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 0 Community Conservation Partnerships Program The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) I manages the 1 16 state parks and 2.1 million acres of state forest land; Financial Assistance provides informati,on on the state's ecological and geologic resources; and establishes community conservation partnerships with financial 1 0 Community Conservation and technical assistance to benefit rivers conservation, trails, green- Partnerships Program ways, community parks and recreation, regional heritage parks and open space and natural areas protection. The Community Conserva- m tion Partnerships Program grants have been used by local municipali- ties and nonprofit groups to shape the landscape and communities in I which we live, work and play. I I I I I r I Generally, all grant components require a match, usually 50%, of cash or in-kind contributions. In addition, ownership or control of the project site is 3 generally required. I Program Sponsor: Specific requirements for each grant component Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and (except for the Heritage Parks Grants) are detailed Natural Resources - Bureau of Recreation and on DCNR’s website at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/grants. I Conservation Program requirements for the Heritage Parks Grant can be found at Description of Program: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/heritageparks/index.htm. I The Community Conservation Partnerships Program is one of Pennsylvania’s primary funding sources Program Availability: dedicated to helping communities, counties, Eligible applicants are county and local govern- I nonprofits and regional coalitions undertake a vari- ments; municipal authorities; and nonprofit recre- ety of park, recreation, conservation, heritage and ation, conservation, greenway and watershed groups. greenways projects. . For some components, private for profit enterprises, I The sources of funding for the program are the school districts and other educational institutions state’s Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation can receive funding. Fund (Key 93), Environmental Stewardship and For the Heritage Parks Program, only designated I Watershed Protection Act (Growing Greener), Act Heritage Park management entities are eligible. In 68 Snowmobile/ATV Fund and general fund appro- turn, these entities pass the fimding onto eligible priations for the Pennsylvania Heritage Parks communities and nonprofit groups in their heritage 1 Program. The program is supplemented with federal corridors, areas or regions. funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Transportation Equity Act for the Technical Assistance on the grant components is Twenty-first Century (TEA-2 1). available through the appropriate Regional Office or a the Central Office in Hamsburg. The Community Conservation Partnerships Program contains the following grant components: Commu- Contact Information: nity Recreation Grants, Land Trust Grants, 1 Rails-to-Trails Grants, Rivers Conservation Grants, DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Heritage Parks Grants, Snowmobile/ATV Grants, Program website www.dcnr.state.pa.us/grants Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants and provides a detailed explanation of the program and I Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Grants. each of the grant components. The website contains the Grant Application Manual and forms, pre-appli- cation workshop information and other application Requirements: I Program instructions and requirements. Information about Grants are provided for planning, acquisition, devel- the Pennsylvania Heritage Program and the Heritage opment and rehabilitation of park, recreation, Parks Grants can be found at conservation, greenways and heritage areas and www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/heritageparks/index.html. I facilities and, in some components, maintenance of trails. Some components of the program offer fund- Or, for more information and copies of the manuals, ing for technical assistance, education and training forms, and other program materials, including tech- I projects. Heritage Parks grants can also fhd nical assistance and pre-application workshop infor- promotion and marketing, special purpose studies mation, contact the appropriate Regional Office and other heritage conservation, tourism and devel- listed. I opment projects. i I I Southwest Field Office Assisting Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette. Greene, Indiana, Washington and Southeast Field Office Westmoreland counties Assisting Bucks. Chester, Delaware, and Montgom- b ery counties and Philadelphia 1405 State Office Building 300 Liberty Avenue I 908 State Office Building Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1210 1400 Spring Garden Street Phone: (412) 880-0486 Philadelphia, PA 19130-4088 Fax: (412) 565-2635 I Phone: (2 1.5) 644-0609 Fax: (2 15) 560-6722 Northwest Field Office Assisting Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, I Northeast Field Office Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Potter, Assisting Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Mercer, McKean, Venango and Warren counties Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne 1301 French Street I and Wyoming counties 1200 Love11 Place Erie, PA 16503-2646 201 Sarnters Building Phone: (814) 871-4190 I 10 1 Penn Avenue Fax: (814) 454-7494 Scranton, PA 18503-2025 Phone: (570) 963-4157 Fax: (570) 963-3439 I Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program Southcentral Field Office Coordination Off ices: Assisting Adams. Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cumber- rn Eastern PA District land, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Migin, Perry, Somerset and York counties 201 Sarnters Building 101 Perm Avenue ‘I P.O. Box 1554 Scranton, PA 18503-2025 Harrisburg, PA 17105-1554 Phone: (570) 963-4973 Phone: (717) 772-3839 Fax: (570) 963-3439 I Fax: (7 17) 705-2943 Western PA District Northcentral Field Office P.O. Box 1554 Assisting Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Hamsburg, PA 17105-1554 I Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Montour, Phone: (717) 772-4361 Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties Fax: (7 17) 705-2943 1 P.O. Box 1554 Harrisburg, PA 17105-1554 Phone: (7 17) 772-3839 I Fax: (7 17) 705-2943 I I Environmental Protection and Conservation Ib Pennsylvania has a long history of protecting its environment. From improving air quality, the restoration of wetlands, improving abandoned I minelands and brownfields, improving water resource management and protecting our watersheds to waste management and recycling, Pennsylvanians have taken seriously the responsibility to leave Penn's Woods as a living, I sustainable legacy for generations to come. Technical Assistance Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania's I Growing Smarter Initiatives The Pennsylvania Small . Towns Environmental Program Pennsylvania Department I (PENN STEP) of Environmental Protection Financial Assistance The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is I the state agency largely responsible for administering Pennsylvania's Growing Greener Grant environmental laws and regulations. DEP's responsibilities include: Program reducing air pollution; making sure the drinking water is safe; protect- I Water ing water quality in Pennsylvania's rivers and streams; making sure waste is handled properly; managing the Commonwealth's recycling - Coastal Zope programs and helping citizens prevent pollution and comply with the Management Program Commonwealth's environmental regulations. DEP is committed to m - Source Water general environmental education and encouraging effective public Protection Grants involvement in setting environmental policy. To meet its responsibili- ties, DEP works as a partner with individuals, organizations, govern- I - Storm Water ments and businesses to prevent pollution and restore Pennsylvania's Management Program natural resources. - Section 3 19 - Nonpoint I Source Management Grant Solid Waste Management I - Act 101 County Planning Grants MitigatiodResistance Planning I - Competitive Hazard Mitigation Grants I - Flood Mitigation Assistance Program - Project Impact I - Floodplain Land Use i Assistance Program 1 J Program Sponsor: I Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- tion (DEP), Growing Greener Grant Center tion (DEP), Bureau of Water Supply Management ' Description of Program: Program Requirements: Authorized by the Environmental Stewardship and PENN STEP is designed for smaller communities Watershed Protection Act for 1999, the purpose of interested in solving their drinking water or this grant is to address water quality impaired water- wastewater problems through self-help techniques. sheds in Pennsylvania that are polluted by nonpoint This program provides guidance, assistance and sources of pollution such as abandoned mine drain- support directly to members of the community that age, urban and agricultural runoff, atmospheric are responsible for project organization, implemen- deposition, on-lot sewage systems and earthmoving. tation and completion. This program includes assis- The grant addresses these and similar concerns tance for choosing engineering services, project through local, watershed-based planning, restoration planning, organizing local resources, working with and protection efforts. volunteer labor and working with contractors. PENN STEP can assist in a community's search for Program Requirements equipment, materials and funding. PENN STEP can Eligible proposals address nonpoint source pollution also help coordinate various forms of assistance in the short-term or long-term through local, from state, federal, and private sources. water-shed based planning, restoration or protection efforts. Proposals fall into one or more of the Program Availability: following categories: A public meeting is held with a PENN STEP repre- 1. organization of a watershed group; sentative who explains the program to an interested community, answers any questions and discuses the 2. watershed assessments and development of potential readiness criteria. watershed restoration or protection plans; To be eligible for PENN STEP, a program is evalu- 3. implementation of watershed restoration or ated according to the potential of the community to protection projects; successfully undertake the project and the readiness 4. demonstration projects, and of the community to do the project work. 5. educationloutreach projects. Contact Information: Projects must be discussed with the appropriate DEP For more information go to watershed manager before preparing the grant htrp://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/waterops/re application. design/subpages/subpages/pennstepmain.html To start the process, interested communities Program Availability: should contact: Grant rounds are held annually. Grant applications are posted on DEP's website prior to deadline. Elec- Kevin Karmosky tronic submissions are accepted. If filing is done Pennsylvania Department electronically, five copies of the required topo- of Environmental Protection graphic maps and letters of support must be PENN STEP Coordinator provided in hard copy format. Phone: (7J7) 787-0122 E-mail: [email protected]. 12 Contact Information: Historic Sites and Structures, Port Activities, Energy Program background and guidelines are available on Facility Siting, Intergovernmental Coordination and DEP’s website at: Public Involvement. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/growgreen/ Program Availability: defaultdep.htm1 Any single project is generally limited to a maxi- DEP Regional Watershed Managers or County mum of $50,000. Most grants require a 50% Watershed Specialists are listed at: (dollar-for-dollar) match either in cash or with in-kind materials and/or services. Cash-match funds http://www.pawatersheds.org/KWN/serviceqro may include monies provided by a state private grant viderslwsmanagers. html program but may not include funds from another http://www.pawatersheds.org/KWN/serviceqro federal grant source. Grant funding is based on the viderslwsspecialists.htm1 federal fiscal year and project term lengths begin October 1st each year. All CZM funded projects Ronald Stanley must be completed within eighteen months of their Pennsylvania Department start date. of Environmental Protection PEP) Phone: 1-877-PAGREEN or (717) 705-5400 Contact Information: E-mail: [email protected] Program fact sheets and guidance information are available on the PA DEP website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/river/czmp.html Coastal Zone Management Program For a grant application contact: Program Sponsor: Jim Nagy Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- Pennsylvania Department tion (DEP), Office of River Basin Cooperation of Environmental Protection (DEP) Phone: (717) 783-2402 E-mail: [email protected] Description of Program: The Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program Everald McDonald provides grants and technical assistance to munici- Pennsylvania Department palities, certain nonprofit organizations and state of Environmental Protection (DEP) agencies with direct impacts on Pennsylvania’s two Phone: (717) 772-5619 designated Coastal Zones, the Lake Erie shore line E-mail: [email protected] and the Delaware Estuary. These are federal funds which are administered by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ~~~ Source Water Protection Grants a branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Program Sponsor: Program Requirements Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- Potential applicants located within the designated tion (DEP), Bureau of Watershed Management Coastal Zone areas and with direct impacts on Lake Erie and the Delaware Estuary may apply for fund- ing for projects which advance the CZM policies. Description of Program: Project proposals should address one or more of the Source Water Protection Grants are made available following ten policy areas: Coastal Hazard Areas, as a component of the Growing Greener Grant Dredging and Spoil Disposal, Fisheries Manage- Program application. Grants are available to ment, Wetlands, Public Access for Recreation, develop, complete or implement local source water I protection programs once a source water assessment sheds and to municipalities to implement the plans. is completed. Such programs protect drinking water The Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act (Act sources used by community water systems based on 167) requires that county develop and adopt storm 3 the results of the state-provided source water assess- water management plans for the watersheds within I ment. their boundaries and also to update those plans every five (5) years. The municipalities, located in the Program Requirements: county adopted watershed plan areas, are required.to enact, implement and administer storm water control I Recipients of grants must establish Source Water ordinances. The grant assistance to counties and Protection (SWP) programs that meet DEP’s mini- municipalities is limited to 75% of the costs for the mum requirements. The SWP program should eligible expenses. include public education, program promotion, 1 support for pollution prevention methods, integra- tion with land use planning and restoration andor Program Requirements: conservation of the source water protection area. The county must submit to DEP a letter of interest I and a proposal for a watershed plan. A formal appli- Program Availability: cation by the counties is not necessary for this grant. Municipalities need to submit a reimbursement form Applicants apply for these grants as part of the I annually to DEP. Growing Greener Grant Application. Timeframes and due dates are consistent with the Growing Greener Grant program. Program Availability: I DEP makes $1.2 million available for this program Funding for wellhead protection projects are capped each fiscal year. Counties and municipalities are at $50,000. Funding for watershed protection eligible for funding. projects are capped at $200,000. Applicants must I provide a 10% match. Contact Information: Contact Information: More information can be found at a www.dep.state.pa.us (directLINK “stormwater”). For more information, contact: Contact: Jennifer Bandura Durla Lathia, I Pennsylvania Department Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of Environmental Protection (DEP) Phone: (7 17) 772-4044 Phone: (717) 772-5661 I Program background and information can be found Email: [email protected] * at www.dep.state.pa.us (directLINK “source Letters of interest with proposals, or Municipal w ate?). Reimbursement Form, should be submitted to: I Durla Lathia Pennsylvania Department I Stormwater Management Program of Environmental Protection (DEP) P.O. Box 8555 Program Sponsor: Harrisburg, PA 17105 I Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Watershed Management I Description of Program: This program provides grants to counties to develop storm water management plans for designated water- 4 I b I Program Sponsor: Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- tion (DEP), Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste I tion (DEP), Bureau of Watershed Management Management Description of Program: Description of Program: I- Section 3 19 of the federal Clean Water Act provides This is a reimbursement grant for preparation of states with grant funds to address specific nonpoint county solid waste management plans required by source water pollution problems. This funding Act 101. I essentially covers the same types of projects eligible under the Growing Greener Program. Program Requirements: Counties are eligible to receive 80% funding for I Program Requirements: preparation of a county solid waste management All grant funds are made on a reimbursement basis. plan. This covers feasibility studies for management Water quality impaired watersheds that are polluted of waste in the county, including costs associated I by nonpoint sources are eligible for Growing with educational programs for household hazardous Greener funds and Section 3 19 funds. waste and pollution prevention. It does not cover construction costs. I Program Availability: Applicants must set up a pre-application conference Proposals may be submitted by municipalities with DEP Regional Recycling Coordinators prior to (counties, boroughs, townships, cities), incorporated application. rn nonprofit organizations and county conservation districts. Section 3 19 funds for FY 2003 will not be Program Availability: available before October 1,2002. A maximum of $200,000 is available per county. A I Applicants apply for these grants as part of the total of $2 million is allocated for the program each Growing Greener Grant Application. Timeframes year. The application period is open-ended. Grant and application deadlines are consistent with that applications are only available from regional DEP I program. staff after the pre-application conference. Contact Information: Contact Information: I Russell Wagner For contact information for DEP Regional Recycling Pennsylvania Department Coordinator access the DEP website at: of Environmental Protection (DEP) Phone: (7 17) 772-5642 http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/ainvaste/w I m/RECYCLE/document/DEPCOORD. html E-mail: [email protected] Contact: Or visit Larry Holley I http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgtJ Pennsylvania Department WC/Subjects/NonPoint. html of Environmental Protection (DEP) Phone: (717) 787-7382 I E-mail: [email protected] i I 1 Contact Information: Ron Killins, Sr., State Hazard Mitigation Officer J Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Program Sponsor: Bureau of Recovery and Mitigation I Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Phone: (717) 651-2145 (PEMA), Hazard Mitigation Office E-mail at: [email protected] For usefbl information and links, go to I Description of Program: http://www.pema.state.pa.us/.Select The Hazard Mitigation Grants Program provides ProgramsIServices, then Disaster Prevention & funding to local governments for the acquisition and Recovery, then select Hazard Mitigation. I relocation or removal of structures from flood-prone areas. Funding is also provided for elevating exist- ing structures or to “flood proof’ them, and for the ~ I construction of structural hazard controls such as Flood Mitigation Assistance Program debris basins or floodwalls. Funding is also awarded for other measures that provide protection Program Sponsor: I or reduces the likely damage from future disasters. Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, The Hazard Mitigation Grants Program may also Hazard Mitigation Office fund measures that affect properties not damaged in I a recent disaster, but which remain vulnerable to Description of Program: future disasters. The identification of projects in the The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMAP) Hazard Mitigation Plan will be used by PEMA to provides funding to assist states and communities in speed disaster recovery assistance to the affected implementing measures to reduce or eliminate the I communities immediately following an unusual long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manu- catastrophic event. factured homes and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). a Program Requirements: FMAP is a pre-disaster grant program. Grants under the program are made ONLY to local governments, special districts, private nonprofit Program Requirements: I agencies with a governmental function or Indian Communities that have flood mitigation plans can tribes. A local government may serve as an appli- request approval of their plans from the FMAP state cant agent for individuals. point of contact and FEMA. Approved plans make a 1 community eligible to apply for FMAP project For acquisitions, project applications that are grants. submitted to FEMA for approval are reviewed for eligibility, cost-effectiveness and environmental I impact. Program Availability: Any state agency, participating NFIP community or Program Availability: qualified local organization is eligible to participate I in the FMAP. Funding is generally given to acquisition and eleva- tion projects. Because funds are limited, PEMA FMAP bdsare distributed from FEMA to the state. selects and prioritizes eligible projects on a competi- PEMA serves as the grantee and program adminis- I tive basis and submits the projects to FEMA for trator for the FMAP. FEMA may contribute up to approval. The Hazard Mitigation Grants Program 75% of the total eligible costs. At least 25% of the can provide up to 75% funding for hazard mitigation total eligible costs must be provided by a I measures. non-federal source. Of this 25%, no more than half can be provided as in-kind contributions from third parties. 4 1 I Contact Information: Contact Information: For more information about the Flood Mitigation For more information about Project Impact, contact: Assistance Program, contact: PEMA's State Hazard Mitigation Office PEMA's State Hazard Mitigation Office Phone: (717) 651-2145, or 1-800-635-9692 b Phone: (717) 651-2145, or 1-800-635-9692 Or visit PEMA's website at I Or visit PEMA's website at http://www.pema.state.pa.us http://www.pema.state.pa.us pp>y&TL--'.-? I I Floodplain Land Use Assistance Program I Program Sponsor: Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Hazard Mitigation Office Economic Development (DCED), Governor's Center . . I for Local Government Services Description of Program: Project Impact is an initiative sponsored by the Description of Program: I Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) The Floodplain Management Program of the Gover- to create disaster resistant communities. Project nor's Center for Local Government Services focuses Impact challenges communities to use long-term on providing technical and financial assistance to I grassroots solutions and resources to prevent natural local governments to help them adopt and administer and technological disasters. Designated Project land use regulations and controls, to reduce and Impact communities receive hnding to develop avoid future flood damages. workgroups and projects that address every aspect of creating a healthy, disaster resistant community. Program Requirements: Municipalities seeking assistance must be participat- I Program Requirements: ing in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Any community that can show a significant threat complying with Act 166 and submitting an Annual from any natural or technological hazard is eligible Report. Funds are available to assist in the prepara- I to become a Project Impact community. tion, administration and enforcement of floodplain management regulations. A municipality, multi-municipal group or county can seek designation. Applicants must demonstrate, I among other things, the presence of multiple poten- Program Availability: tial hazards, a history of problems or declared disas- A letter of intent must be submitted to the Gover- ters and the leadership to build and continue nor's Center for Local Government Services. The I partnerships. letter of intent is available online at: www.landuseinpa.com. Program Availability: Funding is awarded for up to 50% of eligible costs. P A municipality applies for designation to PEMA. PEMA's Hazard Mitigation Team reviews the appli- cation and forwards its recommendation to the 1 Office of the Lieutenant Governor for review. From there, the application is sent to FEMA's regional i office for final consideration. 1 Contact Information: , Kerry Wilson Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Governor’s Center for Local Government Services Phone: 1 -888-2CENTER (1-888-223-6837) E-mail: [email protected]. Visit the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services website for additional information at: http://www.landuseinpa.com. 1 Infkastructure ’r Pennsylvania’s water is a strategically important resource. The social and economic viability of the Commonwealth is greatly dependent upon the I quantity and quality of this resource and its efficient distribution and use. Water Facilities Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania’s 1 Growing Smarter Initiatives Technical Assistance Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission t 0 Water and Waste Water Outreach Program The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is an independent, administrative, quasi-judicial agency vested with the responsibility to II Financial Assistance supervise and regulate all of the public utilities conducting business in the Commonwealth. The PUC regulates all investor-owned utility 0 Small Water Systems systems and municipalities that serve outside their municipal limits. Regionalization Grant Program Over the past two years, the PUC has supported the work of Pennsyl- I vania’s Interagency Team on Land Use and adopted a Policy State- 0 Small Water Systems Consolidation and ment in accordance with the Commonwealth’s goal to make state Construction Grant Program agency actions consistent with sound land use planning. To achieve I this goal, the PUC routinely provides staff expertise and assistance to 0 Act 537 - Sewage Facilities public utilities in the areas of watedwastewater, energy and telecom- Planning Assistance munications. 0 Public Utilities Expert and technical assistance is provided for applications (including 0 PENNVEST Funding new companies, mergers and acquisitions, additional territory, and abandonments), rate increase requests, utility visits to assist in compli- 1 ance with regulations, line extensions and installations and waiver of various regulations. B For further information, contact: Judith A. Koch-Carlson, (7 17) 783-5392 - WaterWastewater Robert 3. Bennctt, (717) 787-5553 - Eiizrgy E Gary Wagner, (717) 783-6175 - Telecommunications For additional information about the PUC, please visit the website at 1 www.puc.paonline. I I i 1 Ned Sterling Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Phone: (717) 787-0122 Program Sponsor: E-mail: [email protected] Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- More information can be obtained on the Drinking tion (DEP), Division of Technical Assistance and Water and Wastewater Operator web page at Outreach www.dep.state.pa.us (directLlNK “operators”). Description of Program: This program provides technical assistance to municipal plant operators and staff and to small Small Water Systems water systems. On-site assistance is provided Regionalization Grant Program through the Environmental Training Partnership (ETP). Technical assistance providers work for the Program Sponsor: program on a part-time basis and are otherwise Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- employed full time as professionals in the water or tion (DEP), Bureau of Water Supply Management wastewater field. Depending on the complexity of the site or the problems encountered, technical assis- Description of Program: tance can last anywhere from four weeks to one year This program offers reimbursement for feasibility or longer. studies by local small water systems to study regionalization options. Program Requirements: Any publicly or privately owned water or Program Requirements: wastewater system that has a desire to achieve, The proposed regionalized water system must maintain or improve compliance is eligible for the involve at least one small water system (a commu- program. There is NO COST for the on-site assis- nity water system, that serves 3,300 or fewer tance. However, costs to implement necessary people). changes are the responsibility of the treatment system. A local sponsor is needed for project. Program Availab i 1it y : Program Availability: This program is voluntary and services are provided Grant awards are limited to no more than 75% of the upon request. . _. total cost of conducting a water systems -- regionalization study or $75,000, whichever is less. The program offers hands-on on-site assistance in The grantee must provide the local share in the form services such as: Process Control, Laboratory of matching funds or in-kind services at a minimum Procedures, Utility Management, Facility Manage- of 25% of the total cost of the study. The grantee ment, Energy Efficiency, Auditing, Chlorine must pay 100% of any costs in excess of $100,000. Minimization, Pre-Treatment, Solids Management, Grant Preparation, Self-Help Construction Practices, DEP has allocated $500,000 for this grant for each Safety, Collection System Operations, Distribution Fiscal Year. Systems Operations and Record Keeping and Reporting. Contact Information: Grant applicatiodtechnical guidance is available on Contact Information: the DEP website at A request for assistance can be made with DEP by http://www.dep.state.pa.us/TechnicalGuidance/Draft contacting the program directly. -technical-guidance.asp. 20 Click on Document 383-5500-213. Contact Information: Contact: Grant apphcatiodtechnical guidance is available on Dennis Lee the DEP website Pennsylvania Department http://www.dep.state.pa.us/TechnicalGuidance/Drafi of Environmental Protection -technical-guidance.asp. Phone: (717) 772-4058 Click on Document 383-5500-613 E-mail: [email protected] Contact: Dennis Lee Pennsylvania Department Small Water Systems Consolidation of Environmental Protection and Construction Grant Program Phone: (7 17) 772-4058 E-mail: den1eeastate.pa.w Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- tion (DEP), Bureau of Water Supply Management Act 537 - Sewage Facilities Planning Assistance Description of Program: This new Initiative, established in 2001, is a Project Sponsor: follow-up program to the Small Water Systems Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- Regionalization Grant Program. The program offers tion (DEP), Bureau of Water Quality Protection reimbursement for physical construction of intercon- nections between water supplies. Description of Program: Program Requirements: The Sewage Facilities Planning Assistance Program provides funding for municipalities to prepare new Eligible projects include construction of waterlines or updated official sewage plans as required by Act to interconnect water systems and repair of existing 537. small water systems to meet standards or conditions of the acquiring system. Eligible costs associated with these types of projects include design, construc- Program Requirements: tion management, project administration, permits, Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties layout, materials and labor. and authorities. Program Availability: Program Availability: Grant awards are limited to 75% of all This program is open-ended and eligible applicants DEP-approved project costs or $75,000, whichever can submit applications at any time. The program is less. Grantee must provide the remaining 25% of reimburses applicants 50% of the reasonable and the total study costs up to a total study cost of documented costs associated with developing a new $150,000. Local share can be in the form of match- or updating an existing sewage plan. ing funds or in-kind services. In addition to the 25% local share, grantee must pay 100% of any costs in Contact Information: excess of $150,000. John McHale DEP has allocated $500,000 for this grant for each Pennsylvania Department Fiscal Year. The application period is open-ended. of Environmental Protection (DEP) Phone: (717) 787-8184 E-mail: [email protected] 21 I For background and guidance on the program, any). The interest rate may be reduced to as low as access the DEP website at www.dep.state.pa.us 1 percent for the entire term of the loan, and some (direc tLINK “Act 53 7”). supplemental grant funding may be available in order to keep the user fees in line with similar The grant application can be accessed on the DEP communities. website at 4 http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/subject/All_Final_Te For individual homeowners, PENNVEST has a chnical-guidancelbwschhwsch. html program offering low interest funding to pay for i repair or replacement of their malfunctioning on-lot Click on Document 362-55 12-002. system that serves their principle residence. This program is administered in conjunction with the 1 z?Y&x?-- Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). PENNVEST Funding PENNVEST is able to provide up to $25,000 to indi- vidual homeowners through innovative programs I Program Sponsor: with an interest rate of close to 1.5 percent. The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Author- Program Availability: ity (PENNVEST) 1 PENNVEST can hdany owner and/or operator of Description of Program: a water, sewer or municipal storm-water system with a project to construct a new system or improvements The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Author- necessary to correct public health, environmental, I ity (PENNVEST) offers low-interest loans for compliance or safety deficiencies with existing design, engineering and construction of both systems. Funding is available for up to 100% of publicly and privately owned drinking water distri- eligible project costs. I bution and treatment facilities; wastewater treatment and collection systems, and municipal storm water Contact Information: conveyance and control systems. PENNVEST rank- ing criteria considers public health and environmen- For a detailed explanation of how to apply for tal benefits, as well as economic development PENNVEST funding and important links, please go impacts of a project, in order to bring together the to goals of environmental improvements and job http://www.pennvest.state.pa.us/pennvest/cwp/view. creation. asp?A=4&Q=72530. Contact your regional PENNVEST Project Special- Program Requirements: ist for additional information and initial review of Funding is provided for eligible components of your eligibility requirements. ’ projects that include design, engineering, and construction of publicly and privately owned drink- ing water and wastewater facilities as well as munic- ipal owned storm water systems. PENNVEST sets its funding based upon several socio-economic factors including the maximum interest rates determined in each individual county. These rates vary depending upon the county unem- ployment rate and the latest state bond issue, and are different for each county. Generally, rates range 1 from percent to just under 5 percent interest for a typical 20 year term. The funding package is also dependent upon the resulting residential user fee (if ~ 22 I Transportation b Growing Smarter requires striking a balance between preservation, maintenance and growth; between new and old. Pennsylvania’? infrastructure, 1 especially its roads, highways and bridges, has helped to shape the landscape and communities in which we live, work and play. Coordination is essential in planning the infrastructure that will continue to shape the kind of Pennsylvania I we want to leave as our legacy. Since infrastructure usually extends beyond municipal boundaries, planning for it should be both multimunicipal and local. Io Technical Assistance Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania’s Growing Smarter Initiatives 0 Local Training Assistance 1 Program (LTAP) The Pennsylvania.Department of Transportation 0 Pennsylvania’s Traffic Calming Handbook The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), one 1 of the nation’s leading public works organizations is the sole state 0 Intermodal Coordinator Training entity that provides highways, bridges and other transportation 0 Rail Freight Properties Directory systems and services to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It 0 Context Sensitive Solutions owns and operates the nation’s fourth largest state-owned highway I system and administers one of the nation’s largest grant programs for 0 Highway Occupancy Permit mass transit, rail freight and aviation. PENNDOT provides these 0 PennPlan transportation systems and services through the active involvement 0 Model Ordinances of customers, partners and employees. Many of PENNDOT’s programs support the smart growth initiative and provide finding for 0 Bicycling Directory studies that coordinate transportation and land use. of Pennsylvania More information about PENNDOT and its programs can be Financial Assistance accessed by visiting http://www.dot.state.pa.us.’ 0 Unified Planning Work Program 0 Transportation Projecaand Use Planning Coordination Initiative 0 Pennsylvania Infiastructure Bank 0 Transportation Management Association (TMA) Funding 0 Transit Research & Demonstration Program 0 Transportation Enhancements Program MPO Planning and Programming Intelligent Transportation Systems 23 Contact Information: Bob Garrett Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) Project Sponsor: Bureau of Planning and Research Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Phone: (7 17) 787-0800 (PENNDOT), Bureau of Planning and Research E-mail: [email protected]. A Technical Assistance Request Form can be found Description of Program: online. This can be submitted electronically or via The Local Training Assistance Program (LTAP) is telephone at 1-800-FOR-LTAP. Upon request, an designed to help Pennsylvania municipalities, which engineer will answer your questions or come to your maintain 68,500 miles of local roadways, make the municipality to look at particular problems. best use of their roadway maintenance dollars. Access information via website at: LTAP provides a wide array of services, including http://www.ltap.psu.edu. technical assistance, training sessions and updates on the latest technologies and innovations, usually at no cost to the municipalities. LTAP is sponsored by PENNDOT, Federal Highways Administration Pennsylvania’s Traffic (FHWA) and Penn State University, in cooperation Calming Handbook with the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services. Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Program Requirements: (PENNDOT), Bureau of Highway Safety and Traffic Technical assistance is available upon request. Engineering The Roads Scholar Program provides up-to-date Description of Program: road and street maintenance information. There is also an extensive list of publications and videos that Pennsylvania’s Traffic Calming Handbook (Pub. can be loaned to municipalities at no cost. 383) provides guidance for PENNDOT when considering the use of traffic calming measures on state roadways in Pennsylvania. The handbook also Program Availability: provides municipalities with information that can The Roads Scholar Program offers two courses. help them establish a traffic calming program for roadways within their jurisdiction. 1. Provides training to municipalities to keep _. .- roads safer and properly maintained at lower costs. Program Requirements: 2. Provides training for foremen, crew leaders, Pennsylvania’s Traffic Calming Handbook should and elected municipal officials in topics such be used in conjunction with the Institute of Trans- as planning, supervising, policymaking, and portation Engineer’s (ITE) “Traffic Calming - State managing. of Practice” publication. Modifications to the study and approval process presented in the publication Both courses are offered at no charge. may be needed to better reflect the conditions of the community. Program Availability: When conditions warrant, traffic calming measures may be appropriate on the following roadway types (local or tate-owned): 24 0 Local residential streets Program Availability: Collector streets with predominantly The initial four sessions of the course will be avail- residential land uses able to a group of hand-selected PENNDOT and public planning agency representatives. 0 Arterial roads within downtown districts or commercial areas (with posted speeds of 40 mph or less) Contact Information: The program is not yet available. However, infor- Contact Information: mation may be available by calling: Doug Tomlinson Ran Marshall Pennsylvania Department Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) of Transportation (PENNDOT) Bureau of Highway Safety Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways and Traffic Engineering Phone: (7 17) 787-2627 Phone: (7 17) 787-3657, E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]. Pennsylvania’s Traffic Calming Handbook (Pub. 383) is available on PENNDOT’s website at Rail Freight Properties Directory www.dot.state.pa.us, keyword: traffic calming. Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Int e rmoda I Coor d i na t or Training (PENNDOT), Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways, Rail OperationsAntermodal Programs Program Sponsor: Description of Program: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and The purpose of this directory is to identify properties Waterways located along the regional and shortline railroads in Pennsylvania that have the potential to be rail Description of Program: served. The directory serves as a valuable resource to promote economic development and increase the The initial pilot of an intermodal coordinator train- traffic base of the regional and shortline railroads. It ing course was held in 200 1 to improve communica- also serves to foster ongoing collaborative efforts tion within the transportation community. The and communication between the railroads, economic training developed a more fomal approach t3 deal development contacts, chambers of commerce, plan- with cross-cutting transportation issues, such as ning agencies, industrial real estate agents, develop- dealing with the eminent domain for railroad ers, property owners and others. right-of-way for a highway project, water port or airport access needs, etc. The Directory identifies 205 properties in three geographic regions; Western, Central, and Eastern Program Requirements: Pennsylvania. It has been used as a resource for companies wanting to move andor expand business The next course is currently being developed and in Pennsylvania and want the benefits of rail service. may be held in late 2002 to early 2003. Training Additionally, the directory identifies sites located in will be offered at four sessions in different regions Keystone Opportunity Zones, providing businesses of Pennsylvania. A primary focus will be the link- with added tax reduction benefits. age between economic development and transporta- tion, and techniques in addressing multi-modal/intermodal transportation planning issues. 25 Program Requirements: Program Requirements: Properties that are rail served by a Pennsylvania Context Sensitive Solutions builds on the existing shortline or regional railroad that are available for project development process to encourage more lease or purchase by a business requiring rail trans- proactive involvement with the stakeholders portation can be included in the web-based version throughout the process. of the directory. Program Availability: Program Availability: Training on Context Sensitive Solutions is currently The directory is available to economic development being developed for the Planning, Design, Construc- contacts, chambers of commerce, planning agencies, tion, and Maintenance communities. industrial real estate agents, developers, property owners and others. Contact Information: A Context Sensitive Solutions handbook is currently Contact Information: being developed with an anticipated completion date The directory can be accessed on the website at of early 2003. Access to the handbook will be avail- www.dot.state.pa.us, click on Special Interest Areas, able on the www.dot.state.pa.us website. then Rail Freight then Properties Directory. Contact: Contact: Dan Stewart Ran Marshall Pennsylvania Department Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) of Transportation (PENNDOT) Bureau of Design, Highway Quality Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways, Assurance Division Rail OperationsDntermodal Programs Phone: (717) 787-0456 Phone: (717) 787-2627 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]. Highway Occupancy Permit Context Sensitive Solutions Program Sponsor: Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), Bureau of Maintenance and Opera- (PENNDOT), Bureau of Design, Highway Quality tions Assurance Division Description of Program: Description of Program: Consideration of local land use planning promotes Context Sensitive Solutions is a collaborative, inter- coordination between PENNDOT and municipalities disciplinary approach to designing, constructing and in the issuance of driveway permits. PENNDOT maintaining transportation facilities, in which stake- now requires applicants to complete a land use ques- holders (citizens, agencies, public officials, etc.) are tionnaire when applying for certain driveway part of the project team. Its goal is to balance safety, permits. PENNDOT uses this form to determine if mobility and transportation needs while preserving the proposed project meets local land use require- scenic, aesthetic, historic, cultural, environmental ments. In addition to the land use questionnaire and community values. form, early coordination meetings between PENNDOT, the applicant, municipalities and other stake holders provides an opportunity for increased coordination with local land use efforts. Program Requirements: Program Availability: The land use questionnaire is included in all low, PennPlan is available to Municipal Planning Organi- medium and high volume driveway applications. zations (MPO), Local Development Districts (LDD), county planning commissions and the general Program Availability: public. PENNDOT notifies municipalities of projects that do not meet zoning use requirements. In addition, Contact Information: municipalities and counties are encouraged to Jim Smedley contact PENNDOT district offices to request notifi- Pennsylvania Department cation of future application submissions for review of Transportation (PENNDOT) and comments. Department of Planning, Center for Program Development and Management Contact Information: Phone: (717) 772-1772 E-mail: [email protected] Walter Knerr Pennsylvania Department PennPlan is also available on PENNDOT’s website of Transportation (PENNDOT) at www.dot.state.pa.us, select General Infomation, Bureau of Maintenance and Operations then Programs & Initiatives, then PennPlan. Phone: (7 17) 783-6473 E-mail at: [email protected]. You may also contact your local PENNDOT district Model Ordinances office or visit PENNDOT’s website at www.dot.state.pa.us, Keyword: Land Use. Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), Department of Planning, Center for Pe nn Pla n Program Development and Management Program Sponsor: Description of Program:. . . Pennsylvania Department of Transportation This program is still in its development stage. (PENNDOT), Department of Planning, Center for Model ordinances such as access management, noise Program Development and Management and interchange will be.developed by PENNDOT and made available for municipalities to adopt. Description of Program: Model ordinances are expected to be available in 2003. PennPlan is the blueprint for all modes of transporta- tion - highways, transit, passenger rail, freight rail, air and water facilities, and bicycle and pedestrian Program Requirements: paths - and how these modes will interact and inter- Municipalities are encouraged to adopt these various connect to form a system in the next quarter century model ordinances to enable them to control access, in Pennsylvania. PennPlan identifies transportation noise and interchange developments. directions, the mechanisms to measure progress I toward objectives, and the means to achieve success. Program Availability: I Training on the use and benefits of these ordinances Program Requirements: may be made available to help implementation. 1 Project consistency with PennPlan may receive a higher priority in programming. 27 1 Contact Information: Contact Information: For more information on this developing program, Dave Bachman contact: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) Angela Watson Bureau of Highway Safety and Traffic Engi- Pennsylvania Department 4 neering, Safety Management Division of Transportation (PENNDOT) Phone: (717) 783-8444 1 Department of Planning, Center E-mail at: [email protected] for Program Development and Management Phone: (7 17) 787-5798 The Directory is also available on PENNDOT’s E-mail: [email protected] website at www.dot.state.pa.us. I When completed, model ordinances will be made available via PENNDOT’s website. li Unified Planning Work Program ~~ Program Sponsor: Bicycling Directory of Pennsylvania 1 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Program Sponsor: (PENNDOT), Department of Planning, Center for Program Development and Management Pennsylvania Department of Transportation I (PENNDOT), Bureau of Highway Safety and Traffic Engineering, Safety Management Division Description of Program: A Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is I Description of Program: developed by the Department of Planning, Center for Program Development and Management annu- The Bicycling Directory is designed to provide a ally. The UPWP outlines the work to be undertaken comprehensive listing of bicycling services and each state fiscal year, the end products of that work, resources for both visitors and residents in Pennsyl- and the cost associated with each task. Funding is vania. The Bicycling Directory also encourages determined by formulas based on population, trans- people to consider the bicycle as a viable mode of portation system complexity, air quality and other 1 transportation. In addition, Touring Corridors specific needs, and distributed to county and provide six Bicycle PA routes for recreation on your regional planning agencies. bicycle. 1 Program Requirements: Program Requirements: Funds are provided to collect and analyze data, There are no requirements to receive benefits under conduct long range transportation planning, perform I this program. needs studies, do congestion management system planning and to prioritize and program projects. Program Availability: Work Programs must be submitted to PENNDOT by I Listed individuals and organizations have agreed to the end of February each year. A notice to proceed provide guidance, assistance and information regard- is usually given by July 1st. ing where to go, how to get there, and what to expect on a Pennsylvania cycling adventure. I Program Availability: County and Regional Planning Agencies may apply for funding. Funds are provided only on a reim- 1 bursement basis. 28 i I I I Contact Information: Contact Information: Tom Kotay Angela Watson Pennsylvania Department Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) of Transportation (PENNDOT) F Department of Planning, Center Department of Planning, Center for Program Development and Management for Program Development and Management Phone: (7 17) 787-7335 Phone: (717) 787-5798 1 E-mail: [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected]. Information is also available on PENNDOT's I website at www.dot.state.pa.us, select General Infor- mation, then Programs & Initiatives, then Land Use. 1 ~ ~~ Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank Pennsylvania Department of Transportation 1 (PENNDOT), Department of Planning, Center for Program Sponsor: Program Development and Management Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) Center for Program Development and I Description of Program: Management Federal Planning funds are available for transporta- tion impact studies, corridor studies, comprehensive Description of Program: plan updates, major projectlland use coordination The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank is a 1 and other studies which involve the consideration of PENNDOT operated program of low interest loans land use. to assist in the funding of transportation improve- ments around the Commonwealth. Program Requirements: Study proposals must be submitted through an Program Requirements: Municipal Planning Organization (MPO)Local Most capital projects are eligible. They include new Development District (LDD) or Independent county. construction of, and improvements to, highways and Funding is available for up to 80% of project/study bridges, transit and rail-passenger facilities and other costs; a 20% local or other funding match is transportation infrastructure. Construction projects required. receive the highest priority for funding. Program Availability: 0 Projects should meet all federal, state and local Municipalities, counties, MPOLDDhdependent planning, environmental and programming counties and other planning organizations are eligi- requirements. ble for funding. Funds are available on a statewide 0 Applicants should be able to substantiate the competitive basis. Funding priorities are established project thoroughly demonstrates congestion by PENNDOT on an annual basis. reduction, mobility and access, environmental, safety and /or economic benefits. Projects Funding decisions are made by PENNDOT in March with more than one benefit may be given a of each year. Funds are distributed on July 1st. higher priority. The Department can only loan state funds for projects that are part of the state-owned highway system or for projects that are normally eligible for state funds. i Program Availability: Program Requirements: Municipalities, counties, state government entities, Only ozone non-attaiment or maintenance areas are public authorities, regional councils and private eligible for CMAQ funds. TMAs must be incorpo- groups making public improvements to transporta- rated as a section 501(c) (3) or (4) organization at tion facilities may apply. The amount of assistance the time of application. An emissions analysis is will be established on a project by project basis. required for CMAQ funds. 4 Repayment terms are established on a 1 project-specific basis, but should not exceed a maxi- Program Availability: mum of ten years. PENNDOT encourages a repay- CMAQ funds are allocated to MPOs. ment term of five years or less. I Contact Information: Contact Information: For more information contact your area MPO. More information, including the Pennsylvania Infra- Or you may contact: I structure Bank Loan Application and Pennsylvania Mike Baker Infrastructure Bank Operating Manual, is available Pennsylvania Department on PENNDOT’s website at www.dot.state.pa.us, of Transportation (PENNDOT) I Keyword: Infrastructure Bank. Center for Program Development Contact: and Management Jim Smedley Phone: (717) 772-0796 I Pennsylvania Department E-mail: [email protected]. of Transportation (PENNDOT) Center for Program Development 1 and Management Phone: (717) 772-1772 Transit Research E-mail: [email protected]. b Demonstration Program Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Transportation Management (PENNDOT), Bureau of Public Transportation Association (TMA) Funding Description of Program: Program Sponsor: This program provides financial assistance for inno- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation vative projects that enhance the attractiveness of ...... - (PENNDOT) Department of Planning, Center for public transportation. Program Development and Management Program Requirements: Description of Program: Research projects are those that propose to study a A Transportation Management Association (TMA) situation or operational function to improve the tran- is a non-profit organization whose mission is to sit agency’s ability to be more efficient and to develop and implement programs and projects aimed increase ridership. They are limited to the maximum at reducing congestion andor improving air quality. amount of $50,000. TMAs work with PENNDOT and local employers to implement these projects. They are funded with Demonstration projects are those that will actually Congestion Metigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds be implemented with R&D program funding. These through the regional Municipal Planning could involve innovative service delivery or Organizations. advanced technology to improve transit operations, with the goal of increasing ridership and improving customer service and productivity. I I Program Availability: be the rehabilitation of an historic train station. Eligible applicants include local transportation orga- Also, a project may function as a component of a nizations within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania transportation system, such as a bikelpedestrian and educational institutions, Regional Planning path. Proposals must be for a complete, identifiable F and usable facility or activity. Funds are not avail- Commissions and private firms providing goods and services to the transit industry (provided that they able for partial projects that cannot function as a obtain a local transit agency as a sponsor). complete and useful activity. Funding is available, I however, for a particular phase of a multi-phase Approved projects are generally eligible for up to project. Funds are available for design, acquisition, 80% of funding. The applicant is responsible for the utility relocation or construction of projects. remaining 20%. I Project sponsors may be municipalities or not-for-profit organizations. It is recommended that Contact Information: non-municipal project sponsors strongly consider I Chris Johnston working through a local or county government Pennsylvania Department entity. of Transportation (PENNDOT) 1 Bureau of Public Transportation Program Availability: Phone: (717) 705-1493 E-mail: [email protected]. A project must address a transportation need, use or benefit. For example, creating a pedestrian or bike I Additional information is available on PENNDOT’s path adjacent to, or separate but parallel to, an exist- website at www.dot.state.pa.us. ing roadway addresses a transportation need. While the restoration of an historic building may create a Select: Bureau of Public Transportation in the orga- tourist attraction, it is only eligible for funding if it 1 nization search, then select Transit Research, then is an historic transportation facility or transportation Transit Research & Demonstration Program. museum, or if there is a transportation use, need or benefit. Transportation Enhancements Contact Information: Program Dan Accurti Pennsylvania Department Program Sponsor: of Transportation (PENNDOT) Pennsylvania Department of Transportation . Department of Planning (PENNDOT), Department of Planning, Center for Center for Program Development Program Development and Managenen! and Management .. Phone: (717) 783-2258 Description of Program: E-mail at: [email protected]. The Transportation Enhancements Program is Information is also available on PENNDOT’s designed to fund transportation related projects that website at www.dot.state.pa.us, select General Infor- are over and above what is considered routine mation, then Programs & Initiatives, then Transpor- construction and maintenance. tation Enhancement Program. Program Requirements: Projects must fall into one or more of the twelve eligible categories established in the Transportation Equity Act for the 2 1st Century. Within these cate- gories, projects must have a relationship to the surface transportation system. An example would 1 - . .. . , . . . ’ ws i ,,-,-., .i _:--=.; -,.. .--~~~;~.~~,,~,-~~.,. &&&,kL--- ..;-.y, i.:L-s/&&.&~-.r-:-=?.:- - . . Municipal Planning Organization Int e II i g e nt Transportat i on Systems Planning and Programming Program Sponsor: Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), Depart- (PENNDOT), Department of Planning, Center for 4 ment of Planning, Center for Program Development Program Development and Management and Management I Description of Program: Description of Program: Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are I PENNDOT provides financial guidance to Munici- designed to improve the movement of people and pal Planning Organization, Local Development goods by deploying technology. Examples of ITS Districts and independent counties for the update of technology include traffic monitoring, incident a region’s transportation program. Programs are detection and smart vehicles. The deployment of I developed or updated every two years to represent ITS improves safety, reduces congestion, apd the next four years of transportation projects. reduces the need to implement expensive capacity increasing projects. I Program Requirements: Potential transportation projects need to be submit- Program Requirements: ted to a region’s MPO, LDD or independent county To be eligible for federal and/or state funding, ITS I for consideration. Selected projects are included in projects,must be included on an Municipal Planning the region’s Transportation Improvement Program. Organization, Local Development District or inde- pendent iounty Transportation Improvement I Projects must be included on a region’s Transporta- Program. tion Improvement Program in order to be included in the State Transportation Improvement Program. All transportation projects must be “programmed” to Program Availability: receive transportation funds. ITS can be deployed statewide. ITS studies are eligible for federal and state transportation funds. Program Availability: Municipalities, counties, MPOs, LDDs and inde- Contact Information: pendent counties may recommend transportation For more information, contact your region’s MPO, projects. LDD or independent county planning agency. Or you may contact: Contact Information: Dennis Lebo For more information, contact your region’s MPO, Pennsylvania Department LDD or independent county planning agency. You of Transportation (PENNDOT) may also contact: Department of Planning Center for Program Development Dennis Lebo and Management Pennsylvania Department Phone: (7 17) 787-5246 of Transportation (PENNDOT) E-mail: [email protected] Department of Planning Center for Program Development and Management Phone: (717) 787-5246 E-mail: [email protected] 32 I Historic Preservation Cultural resources can be archeological and historic sites or an historic b landscape. However defined, these resources shape our communities and give I them character. They serve as an important educational and economic or tourism asset. I I Technical Assistance Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania’s Growing Smarter Initiatives 0 Technical Assistance Grant Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission I Financial Assistance The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the 0 Certified Local Government Commonwealth’s official “history agency.” The Bureau for Historic I Grant Program Preservation is part of PHMC and serves as the State Historic Preser- 0 Keystone Historic Preservation vation Ofice (SHPO). The role of the Bureau is to identify and Grant Program protect the architectural and archaeological resources of Pennsylvania. I The Bureau has the responsibility to work with individuals, communi- 0 Pennsylvania History and ties, local governments and state and federal agencies to educate Penn- Museum Grant Program sylvanians about the state’s heritage and its value, to build better 0 Historic Preservation Grants communities through preservation, to provide strong leadership, both 0 Statewide Conference Grants individually and through partnerships, and to insure the preservation of Pennsylvania’s heritage. I Contact Information: Applicants for this grant are required to use the web-based electronic grant application process. Program Sponsor: Exceptions are generally only made for those appli- Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission cants who do not have the necessary equipment. (PHMC), Bureau of Historic Preservation The electronic grant application can be completed by 4 accessing www.artsnet.org/phmc and then selecting I Description of Program: “egrants.” This grant program is designed to help a wide range Additional information can be obtained by calling: of applicants acquire skills to undertake projects for organizations, including preservation planning, long Michel R. Lefevre 1 range planning and developing a project scope in Phone: 1-800-20 1-3231, or (7 17) 787-077 1 preparation for applying for a PHMC grant. The E-mail: [email protected] grants bring experts in the field to the organization’s 1 sites or provide staff training. Certified Local Government Program Requirements: Grant Program I Eligible organizations must meet the following requirements: Program Sponsor: 1 1. Must be located in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission (PHMC), Bureau for Historic Preservation 2. Must be a local government or have a tax-exempt status. Description of Program: I 3. Must be incorporated and in existence for two This program provides technical and funding assis- years prior to submission of a grant tance to local governments in order to enhance their application. ability to implement a historic preservation approach 4. If applicable, must be registered with the to sound land use planning and regulation. This Pennsylvania Commission on Charitable program is hnded by the National Historic Preserva- Organizations. tion Fund. Program Availability: Program Requirements: Organizations with general operating budgets of less Funding under this program is limited to federally than $250,000 may apply for technical assistance. designatcd Certified Local Governments (CLG). Organizations with general operating budgets over There is only one type of grant. The competitive $250,000 may apply if they are acting as a mentor process awards funding in the categories of cultural for a smaller group. Organizations such as colleges resource surveys, National Register nominations, and universities, conservancies, historical societies, technical and planning assistance, educational and local governments, museums, preservation organiza- interpretive programs, staffing and training, and tions and schools and school districts are eligible to pooling CLG grants and third party administration. apply. Program Availability: Grant awards will not exceed $1,500. Applicants may apply for and receive more than one Technical Certified Local Government Grants require a 60140 Assistance Grant in any one year. match. The historic preservation grant can reim- burse up to 60% of the total project. In-kind contri- butions may be used to satisfy the 40% local match. However, cash matches are strongly encouraged and will be considered in the evaluation process. I The maximum award under this program is $25,000. Program Availability: Contact Information: Grants will be funded at 50%. Projects under $5,000 Applicants for this grant are required to use the and over $100,000 may be considered at the I, web-based electronic grant application process. Commission’s discretion. Grant hnding ‘is Exceptions are generally only made for those appli- supported annually with realty transfer tax revenue. cants who do not have the necessary equipment. Application deadlines may be obtained by visiting The electronic grant application can be completed by I the PHMC Grants Website at www.artsnet.org/phmc accessing www.artsnet.org/phmc and then selecting or by calling 1-800-201-3231. “egrants.” I Additional information can be obtained by calling: Contact Information: Certified Local Government Applicants for this grant are required to use the I Grant Administrator web-based electronic grant application process. Michel R. Lefevre Exceptions are generally only made for those appli- Phone: 1-800-201-3231, or (717) 787-0771 cants who do not have the necessary equipment. E-mail: [email protected]. The electronic grant application can be completed by 11 accessing www.artsnet.org/phmc and then selecting Certified Local Government Grant Manager “egrants .” Janice E. Stramara I Phone: (717) 783-2838 Additional information can be obtained by calling: E-mail: [email protected] Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Administrator I Bryan Van Sweden Phone: (717) 772-5071 Keystone Historic Preservation E-mail: [email protected] m Grant Program Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission Pennsylvania History I (PHMC) and Museum Grant Program Description of Program: Program Sponsor: I This program provides funding for preservation, Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission restoration and rehabilitation projects of historic (PHMC) resources listed in or eligible for listing in the .. I National Register for Historic Places. Description of Program: Funding under this program is designated to support Program Requirements: a wide variety of museum, history, archives and I Funding under this program is available to nonprofit historic preservation projects, as well as nonprofit organizations and local governments for capital organizations and local governments. There are 10 improvements on historic resources listed in or eligi- types of grants, among which the following support 1 ble for listing in the National Register of Historic the Growing Smarter Initiatives. For a complete Places. (Private property owners are not eligible for listing, go to the PHMC Grant website at funding under this program.) www.artsnet.org/phmc. I Preservation covenants are required on all properties 1. Historic Preservation Grants - Grants are receiving funding from the PHMC. available in differing amounts to support cultural resource surveys, National Register I nominations, planning and development Program Availability: assistance, educational and interpretive Organizations such as colleges and universities, programs and archaeology. conservancies, historical societies, local govern- 2. PHMC Technical Assistance Grants - These ments, museums, other historical organizations, grants assist organizations in solving museums and historic sites owned by the PHMC and problems, increasing professionalism and operated by independent nonprofit organizations and 4 . building capacity. multi-purpose organizations may apply for fimding. 1 3. PHMC Statewide Conference Grants - This There are two levels of finding for Historic Preser- grant provides monies to organizations that vation Grants: plan and hold conferences relating to issues 1. Grants in amounts up to and including $5,000 1 concerning the history, museum, historic require no matching finds. preservation and cultural communities of Pennsylvania. 2. Grants in amounts of $5,001 up to and 1 including $15,000 require 50/50 matching For additional information, please refer to the funds. In-kind contributions may be used to program entry under each grant program title. satisfy the local match requirement. However, cash matches are strongly encouraged and will I be considered in the evaluation process. Historic Preservation Grants 3. Grant awards will not exceed $15,000. I Program Sponsor: Contact Information: Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission Applicants are encouraged to discuss their project I (PHMC) ideas with the appropriate grant manager or adminis- trator. Description of Program: Additional information can be obtained by calling: These grants are available in two different amounts to support projects in the categories of cultural Historic Preservation Grant Manager resource surveys, National Register nominations, Carol Lee planning and development assistance, educational Phone: 1-800-201-3231 or (717) 783-9918 I and interpretive programs and archaeology. E-mail: [email protected] Applicants for this grant are required to use the I Program Requirements: web-based electronic grant application process. Eligible organizations must mcet the following - Exceptions are generally only made for those appli- requirements: cants who do not have the necessary equipment. I 1. Must be located in Pennsylvania. The electronic grant application can be completed by accessing www.artsnet.org/phmc and then selecting 2. Must be a local government or have a “egrants.” tax-exempt status. I 3. Must be incorporated and in existence for two years prior to submission of a grant application. I 4. If applicable, must be registered with the Pennsylvania Commission on Charitable I Organizations. 36 4 I I I Additional infomation can be obtained by calling: Ira F. Smith I11 Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Historic Museum P Commission (PHMC ) Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission Phone: 1-800-201-3231 or (717) 787-9927 I (PHMC) E-mail: [email protected] Description of Program: Statewide Conference Grants require no match and I are awarded as “seed” money to organizations that plan and hold conferences relating to issues concern- ing the history, museum, historic preservation and I cultural communities of Pennsylvania. Program Requirements: I Organizations such as colleges and universities, educational institutions, historical organizations and societies, historical preservation organizations, I libraries (public and private), local governments, museums and other related organizations may apply for funding. I To apply for a Statewide Conference Grant, an orga- nization must have tax-exempt status or be an entity of local government. Additionally, the organization must be incorporated and in existence for at least two years prior to the submission of the grant appli- cation and must be registered with the Pennsylvania Commission on Charitable Organizations, as I required. Conferences must be held in Pennsylvania and must I appeal to a statewide, regional or national audience. Program Availability: I Grant awards are subject to the annual availability of funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I Contact Information: Applicants for this grant are required to use the web-based electronic grant application process. Exceptions are generally only made for those appli- I . cants who do not have the necessary equipment. The electronic grant application can be completed by I accessing www.artsnet.org/phmc and then selecting “egrants.” b 37 I Urban Revitalization Despite a movement of growth outside of Pennsylvania's urban cores, the states downtowns remain cultural, historical, educational, architectural and entertainment centers. Revitalizing the downtown communities support the foundation of the Commonwealth and its social and economic viability. I Financial Assistance Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania's Growing Smarter Initiatives 0 Main Street Program I New Communities Program The Department of Community Keystone Opportunity and Economic Development (DCED) ZonesKeystone Opportunity Expansion Zones The Department of Community and Economic Development works to I foster opportunities for businesses and communities to succeed and 0 Enterprise Zone Program thrive in a global economy, thereby enabling Pennsylvanians to achieve a superior quality of life. To ensure growth and development I in our businesses and communities across Pennsylvania, DCED is the cornerstone to a large number of programs focused specifically on building Pennsylvania's economy, empowering its communities and supporting its local governments. ' For access to information about DCED and its programs visit www.inventpa.com. This web site has been developed to help busi- nesses, local governments and individuals harness the power of the web to quickly and easily find the programs, initiatives and assistance I that are available. Pennsylvania Department of Revenue I The Department of Revenue works to revive economically distressed urban and rural communities with one of the most powerful market-based incentives - eiiminating taxes. Programs such as the Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ) and the Keystone Opportunity I Expansion Zones (KOEZ) provide priority status to businesses for various state and local community-building assistance programs. The KOZKOEZ initiatives are jointly administered by the Department of I Revenue and the Department of Community and Economic Develop- ment (DCED). It is through these partnerships that the Department of Revenue and DCED can work together to ensure growth and develop- I ment for businesses and communities in the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania. I 39 1 Or, visit DCED’s home page at www.inventpa.com. Select Communities in PA, then the COI”nUnity Resource Directory. Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Community and -~ ___ Economic Development (DCED) 4 New Communities Program I Description of Program: Program Sponsor: This five-year program is designed to help a Pennsylvania Department of Community and community’s downtown economic development Economic Development (DCED) I effort through the establishment of a local organiza- tion dedicated to downtown revitalization, and the management of downtown revitalization efforts by Description of Program: hiring a full-time professional downtown coordina- This program provides grants to support the Enter- I tor. The Downtown Reinvestment Component uses prise Zone and Main Street Programs and downtown business district strategies to support eligible businesses providing technical and financial assis- commercial-related projects located within a central tance to communities. I or neighborhood business district. This program has been merged into the New Communities Program. Program Requirements: There are no terms or conditions to this program. 1 Program Requirements: For the Main Street Program, administrative costs Program Availability: associated with the hiring of a coordinator and oper- Funding under this program is available to general I ating the ofice and desigrdfacade are granted to purpose local governments, redevelopment authori- private property owners within the target area; for ties, economic development agencies, and quaIified the Downtown Reinvestment Component, physical nonprofit community development agencies. improvements that are supported by a plan with clearly documented public benefit. Eligible uses for funding include administrative support of business development in downtown and Program Availability: business park areas, downtown faGade renovations, loan capital for property acquisition and improve- Generally, a municipality is the applicant for the ments, equipment purchases and modernization. Main Street Manager Component. Municipalities and redevelopment authorities are the eligible appli- cants for the Downtown Reinvestment Component. Contact Information: In limited cases, a Main Street nonprofit or Business Aldona Kartorie District Authority with two years of audited records Office of Community Development may apply for the funds. Phone: (717) 787-7409 E-mail: [email protected] A match is required for funding on the Main Street Component. For the Downtown Reinvestment and Applications are available at: www.inventpa.com. Anchor Building components, at least two thirds of Select Communities in PA, then Building Better total development costs must be committed. Communities, then Community Resources. This program utilizes the single application process. Contact Information: Diana Kerr Office of Community Development Phone: 7 17-720-741 1 E-mail: [email protected]. 40 I .. . .,~ -_ 1.. -~~-~:~::~~~~~?~~.,~~~~~ ...-. I...... : __._ _- _id...... - - http://www.revenue.state.pa.usor DCED’s website Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ) at http://koz.inventpa.com//index.html. and Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones (KOEZ) Contact: Ryan Kociolek b Program Sponsor: Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Pennsylvania Department of Community and Office of Community Development I Economic Development (DCED) Phone:(7 17) 720-7344 Description of Program: --:= I Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ) and Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones (KOEZ) are Enterprise Zone Program geographic areas that are virtually free of state and I local taxes. A KOZKOEZ is given priority for vari- Program Sponsor: ous state and local community-building assistance Pennsylvania Department of Community and programs. The goal of the KOZ/KOEZ is to revive Economic Development (DCED) economically distressed urban and rural communi- I ties with one of the most powerful market-based Description of Program: incentives - eliminating taxes. The Enterprise Zone Program provides grants to Pennsylvania is comprised of 12 KOZ regions. financially disadvantaged communities for preparing Within each region, there are KOZ subzones and and implementing business development strategies specific properties identified. To view Pennsylva- within municipal Enterprise Zones (EZ). The objec- nia’s KOZ regions, go to: tives of EZs are to improve a zone’s business http://koz.inventpa.com//find.html climate and to enable local governments to facilitate growth and employment opportunities. Addi- The KOZKOEZ initiatives are jointly administered tionally, the program is designed to help local by the Department of Revenue and the Department governments and business communities form of Community and Economic Development public-private partnerships to develop and sustain (DCED). private investments and job creation. There are currently 29 Enterprise Zones within the state. 1 Program Requirements: This program has been merged into the New In order to receive benefits, under this program, you Communities Program. must become qualified and receive state certifica- 1 tion. Businesses, property owners and residents Program Requirements: must be hlly compliant with all local and state taxes as well as building and zoning codes in order to be Financially disadvantaged communities are eligible I eligible. to receive assistance under this program. I Program Availability: Program Availability: To receive KOZKOEZ tax benefits -a KOZ/KOEZ Municipalities and redevelopment authorities are application must be completed and submitted by eligible for funding to assist in business develop- December 3 1 of each calendar year for which bene- ment surveys, business development strategylprepa- I fits are sought. The Zone Coordinator for each ration and revolving fund business loans. region will instruct applicants where to file the application. Contact Information: I For more information, visit DCED’s website at Contact Information: www.inventpa.com. For additional information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s KOZ website at 41 I Affordable Housing In order to make the Commonwealth a better place to live and foster community and economic development, decent, safe and affordable homes are I needed. This includes housing for older adults, persons of modest means and those persons with special housing needs. When communities and government work together to encourage market-sensitive and innovative land use planning I concepts in urban areas, opportunities for homeownership and th.e transformation of distressed urban neighborhoods into attractive places to live are realized. These efforts offer Pennsylvanians a viable alternative to suburbia 1 and sprawl development. Financial Assistance Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania’s I Growing Smarter Initiatives: 0 Homeownership Choice Demonstration Program The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency I 0 Single Family Homeownership (Single Family) Program The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) is Pennsylvania’s leading provider of capital for affordable homes and apartments. In 0 Multifamily Rental Housing order to make the Commonwealth a better place to live while fostering I Program community and economic development, PHFA provides capital for decent, safe and affordable homes and apartments for older adults, persons of modest means and those persons with special housing needs. PHFA provides a variety of programs that support community and economic development in Pennsylvania’s communities. 43 1 I For-profit homebuilders / developers should work in partnership with local nonprofit builder developers or Community Development Corporations (CDCs). Program Sponsor: This program is available to municipalities. Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) 4 Contact Information: For proposal guidelines and submission require- I Description of Program : ments, visit PHFA’s website at: The Homeownership Choice Demonstration http://www.phfa.org/news/hcp.htm. Program (HCP) is designed to provide funds for the I development of single family homes for purchase in Robert Bobincheck urban communities. The HCP is intended to be a Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) part of a municipality’s comprehensive approach to Phone: (717) 780-1801 or by increase the net investment in housing in urban areas E-mail: [email protected] I while building mixed-income communities and encouraging diversity of homeownership. 1 Single Family Homeownership Program Requirements: (Single Family) Program In order to achieve measurable impact, develop- I ments need to be conceived within the context of the Program Sponsor: overall strategic plans designed to produce signifi- Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) cant scale. Therefore, PHFA has established 10 guiding principles for the HCP that coordinate I program funding with efforts to address other factors Description of Program: that contribute to negatite urban environments (i.e., The Single Family Homeownership (Single Family) unemployment, crime, lack of green or open space, Program enables low- and moderate-income house- etc.). The design of the proposed housing develop- holds to purchase new or existing homes by provid- ment must address the 10 Guiding Principles of the ing below-market interest rate financing through Program, which are found on PHFA’s website at: private lending institutions. The Single Family http://www.phfa.org/rfp/HCP-RFP-02152002.htm. Program also provides consumer education and credit counseling for low and moderate-income To apply for funding, a proposal must be submitted households who might otherwise not achieve their to PHFA. Guidelines for proposal content and goals of homeownership. submission requirements are also available on PHFA’s website at: Under this program there are 10 separate.programs. http://www.phfa.org/rfp/HCP-RFP-02152002.htm. They are: 1. PHFAEannie Mae Disability Access Program Availability: Modification Loan Program Funding is available for joint effort between a 2. Statewide Homeownership Program for-profit builder / developer; local, non-governmen- tal nonprofit builder / developer or Community 3. Lower Income Homeownership Program Development Corporation (CDC) which has been 4. Closing Cost Assistance Program previously engaged in housing development in the community; and the local government. Proposals 5. Homestead Second Mortgage Program coming from first class cities must be generated 6. Access Home Modification Program through and submitted by the municipal government. 7. Access Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Loan Program 44 I I 8. Joint Financing Program Information on each of these programs is available on PHFA’s website at: 9. FHA 203(k) Program www. phfa.org/programs/multifamily/index.htm P 10. Purchase-Improvement Program Each program is described on PHFA’s website at: Program Requirements: www. phfa.org/programs/singlefamily/index.html. Each program has its own prerequisites, qualifica- I tions and specifications. Program requirements can Program Requirements: be viewed by clicking on the appropriate link at www. phfa.org/programs/multifamily/index.htm. Each program has its own prerequisites, qualifica- I’ tions and specifications. Program requirements can be viewed by clicking on the appropriate link at Program Availability: www .phfa.org/programs/singlefamily/index.html. Programs under the Multifamily Rental Housing I Program are available to assist private.developers, . Program Availability: nonprofit organizations and local governments that provide and expand affordable housing opportunities Funding is provided to homebuyers who meet the for Pennsylvania’s citizens. I program eligibility requirements. Contact Information: Contact Information: For program applications and information on appli- I Donald J. Plunkett cation deadlines, visit PHFA’s website at Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) www.phfa.org/programs/multifamily/index.htmand Phone: (717) 780-3800 or 1-800-822-1 174 I click on the appropriate link for each program. Visit PHFA’s website at http://www.phfa.org David Evans Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Phone: (717) 780-3800 Multifamily Rental Housing Program I Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) I Description of Program: Assistance under this program takes the form of loans and tax credits to developers for rental housing I construction and rehabilitation and technical hsis- tance to sponsors and applicants who plan to submit funding requests for proposed development. I The Multifamily Rental Housing Program consists of several programs. These include: I 0 Construction Loan Program 0 PennHOMES Program I 0 Taxable and Tax-exempt Bond Financing 0 Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program b I I I P Brownfields and Land Recycling The Pennsylvania Brownfield Program encourages the cleanup and redevelopment of industrial and commercial sites and putting these sites back I into production in a way that is safe for both workers and the community. Additionally, this preserves farmland and open space. I I Financial Assistance Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania’s Growing Smarter Initiatives 0 Brownfield Inventory Grants 1 Under the Hazardous Sites Pennsylvania Department Cleanup Act of Environmental Protection 0 Brownfield Tax Incentive Program The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection PEP) is I the state agency largely responsible for administering Pennsylvania’s 0 Keys Sites Initiative environmental laws and regulations. DEP’s responsibilities include: reducing air pollution; making sure the drinking water is safe; protect- I ing water quality in Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams; making sure waste is handled properly; managing the Commonwealth’s recycling programs and helping citizens prevent pollution and comply with the Commonwealth’s environmental regulations. DEP is committed to general environmental education and encouraging effective public involvement in setting environmental policy. To meet its responsibili- ties, DEP works as a partner with individuals, organizations, govem- ments and businesses to prevent pollution and restore Pennsylvania’s I natural resources. I I I I I .-~.-...,- . *... .- A:,- . . -..__Lx!&$L>A- *-- . - Cq7.C --.-\ 4 Brownfield Inventory Grants Under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Program Sponsor: Program Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- tion (DEP), Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste 4 tion (DEP) Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste Management Management I Description of Program: Description of Program: The Brownfield Tax Incentive is a federal initiative I This grant provides municipalities and economic designed to spur cleanup and redevelopment of development agencies funding to inventory brownfields. Environmental cleanup costs for eligi- brownfield properties in their area. Grantees gather ble properties may be treated as fully deductible information about the properties available for rede- business expenses for the year in which costs are I velopment including information about existing incurred or paid. infrastructure, suspected or confirmed environmental contamination, and other related site information Program Requirements: I and post it to the PA Site Finder Directory at Eligible properties must meet two requirements: http://www.pasitefinder.state.pa.us. 1. The property must be held by the taxpayer I Program Requirements: incurring the eligible expenses for use in a trade or business, or for the production of Each brownfield site identified and inventoried by approved grantees is eligible for one reimbursement income, or the property must be properly I included in the taxpayer's inventory. of $1,000 per site with a maximum amount of $50,000 allowable per grantee. 2. A release or threat of release or disposal of any hazardous substance at or on the property. Program Availability: Note: sites on EPA's National Priorities List The grant is available to counties, municipalities and (Superfund List) are excluded. , economic development agencies. Applications are accepted annually and deadlines are announced in Program Availability: the Pennsylvania Bulletin, DEP UPDATE newsletter Eligible costs must be incurred or paid between and on the DEP website http://www.dep.state.pa.us August 5, 1997 and December 31,2003. Contact Information: Contact Information: .. Grant applications can be downloaded from the DEP J. Thomas Leaver, Outreach Specialist website at: Pennsylvania Department . http://www.dep.s tate.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/w of Environmental Protection PEP) dlandrecy/lnventory/BIG.htm. Phone: (717) 783-7816 Contact: E-mail: [email protected] Craig Olewiler Department of Environmental Protection Phone: (717) 783-7816 E-mail: [email protected] 48 . . . ., ... . .- -..,.:.,.as .. ~ I ._..., . __ .-._.. . .- ..._ ..-<>a'. .u d* Regional Environmental Cleanup Managers can be Key Sites Initiative located at: Program Sponsor: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/w P m/landrecyffACTS/REGION.HTM#anchofi50544. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- tion (DEP), Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste I Management Description of Program: I Key Sites Initiative is an element of DEP's award winning land recycling program. It assists munici- palities and non-profit economic development agen- I cies by providing consulting.services to carry out environmental site assessments and prepare cost estimates for cleanup plans in order to make a rede- velopment project feasible. This helps to facilitate I the voluntary cleanup and reuse of abandoned indus- trial properties, especially in smaller municipalities I that have limited resources. Program Requirements: Municipalities and nonprofit economic development I agencies that own abandoned properties are eligible to receive these services. Special emphasis is placed on smaller municipalities and agencies that do not have the resources to complete site assessments or cost estimates. Municipalities or nonprofit entities must demon- 1 strate that the proposed project complies with local land use, zoning and subdivision ordinances. I Program Availability: Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Environmental Cleanup Program Manager in the I appropriate DEP regional office. The LO1 outlines a general description of the project and its anticipated I public benefits. Contact Information: Tom Fidler I Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Phone: (717) 783-7816 E-mail: [email protected] I P Intergovernmental Cooperation The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is home to 2,367 municipalities - each responsible for providing its residents with services. Intergovernmental 1 cooperation and multimunicipal planning offer users considerable benefits including improved services, enhanced environments and significant savings. Together, communities can effectively address issues that cross municipal I boundaries including transportation, schools, emergency services, recreation and resource protection. I Financial Assistance Agencies Working to Support Pennsylvania‘s Growing Smarter Initiatives 0 Land Use Planning and I Technical Assistance The Governor’s Center Program (LUPTAP) for Local Government Services 0 Shared Municipal Services I Grant Program The Governor’s Center for Local Government Services (Center) is considered to be the principal advocate for all Pennsylvania local Community Development governments and provides a range of technical and financial assis- Block Grants tance. Through these programs, local officials can receive assistance in I matters ranging from police complement to fiscal management to assistance on the Municipal Planning Code (MPC), and on the existing tools available to them to help manage growth within their communi- ties and revitalize previously developed areas. The Center works in conjunction with local, state and national associations/organizations providing assistance, training and the necessary tools to make Pennsyl- vania’s communities the best places to live and work. I ‘I I I 51 I match. Some or all ofthe required local match may be substituted with professional services of a grantee’s staff, but this should be discussed with the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services Program Sponsor: before submission of the application. A proposal for Pennsylvania Department of Community and the substitution is required with the grant submis- 4 Economic Development (DCED), Governor’s Center sion. I for Local Government Services DCED’s Single Application for assistance may be submitted at any time. Description of Program: I This program provides financial assistance for Contact Information: municipalities and counties of the Commonwealth John Mizerak for developing and strengthening community plan- Governor’s Center I ning and management. The program encourages for Local Government Services intergovernmental cooperation in planning, includ- Phone: 1 -888-2CENTER (1 -888-223-6837) ing cooperation with contiguous municipalities, E-mail: [email protected] counties and school districts. .’ 1 Applicants must use the DCED Single Application Program Requirements: when applying for LUPTAP fhding. Copies of the Single Application kit are available through DCED I The LUPTAP program provides financial assistance Customer Service at 1-800-379-7448 or to fund activities such as: 717-787-3405 or on DCED’s website at: 1. Developing new or updated comprehensive www.inventpa.com. I community development plans and policies. 2. Preparing environmental protection or physical development strategies or special Shared Municipal Services studies that will support comprehensive Grant Program planning. 3. Developing or updating ordinances and other Program Sponsor: tools for the implementation of comprehensive Pennsylvania Department of Community and community development plans and policies or Economic Development (DCED), Governor’s Center environmental protection or physical for Local Government Services development strategies. 4. Training and education when proposed as a Description of Program: participatory planning component of a This program provides fhding to promote coopera- planning program. tion between shared municipal services to increase the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of 5. Other worthwhile planning activities that these services at the local level. address further land use objectives that do not have a negative impact on land use. (DCED determines what activities are considered Program Requirements: “worthwhile planning activities.”) There are two general project categories that a proposed project may fall under. They are: Program Availability: 1. Intermunicipal Organization Start-up - Grants DCED generally finds 50% of the total cost of an may be awarded to newly-formed Councils of approved application. The grantee is required to Governments or similar organizations formed provide the remaining 50%’ normally as a cash for the purpose of undertaking programs of I I intermunicipal cooperation in order to defray Description of Program: the cost of initial administrative expenses. This program provides grant assistance and technical 2. Shared Services - Grants may be awarded to assistance to aid communities in their community P groups of two or more municipalities acting in and economic development efforts. concert to defray the cost of performance of any local government function. Program Requirements: I Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Availability: monies can be used for housing rehabilitation, public Funding is awarded for such projects as combined services, community facilities, infrastructure I police records administration, shared technology improvement development and planning. There are initiatives, municipal insurance pooling and shared two components to the program: public works operations. Also funded are programs 1. Entitlement Program which provides annual for regional recreation activities, shared code I funding to 27 third class cities, 128 boroughs enforcement operations, shared motorized equip- and townships and 54 counties; and ment (not exceeding a maximum grant of $25,000) or any authorized municipal function accomplished 2. Competitive Program which is available to all I jointly (with the exception of the purchase, renova- non-federal entitlement municipalities in tion or construction of buildings). Pennsylvania. I Grant funds are usually used to finance up to 50% of Seventy percent (70%) of each CDBG grant must be the total project cost. The rest of the project cost used for activities that benefit low- and moderate- must be funded by local share. Local share may be income persons. provided in cash or by municipal labor or other I in-kind services. However, the matching share for Program Availability: shared persopnel projects must be in cash. Local governments that are not designated by HUD as urban counties or entitlement municipalities are Contact Information: eligible for funding. Fred Reddig Governor’s Center Contact Information: for Local Government Services For more information, visit DCED’s website at Phone: 1-888-2CENTER (1-888-223-6837) www.inventpa.com. E-mail: [email protected]. I To request information or apply for the Entitlement Copies of the Single Application for assistance Program contact: forms; application instmctions and other information are available on line at www.inventpa.com, or by Scott Dunwoody I request from any DCED regional office, or by call- Department of Community ing the DCED Customer Service Center at and Economic Development (DCED) 1-800-379-7448. Phone: (717) 720-7402 I E-mail at: [email protected] To request information or apply for the Competitive I Community Development Program contact: Block Grants (DCED) Tom Brennan Department of Community I Program Sponsor: and Economic Development (DCED) Pennsylvania Department of Community and Phone: (7 17) 720-7403 Economic Development (DCED), Governor’s Center E-mail: [email protected] for Local Government Services R 1 1 APPENDIX I I CENTER FOR RURAL PA: RURAL ACCESS GUIDE I 1 1 1 I I I I' I 'I A Catalogue of Public and Private Sources of Financial, Technical, and Other Assistance for Pennsylvania's Rural Communities I I I I I The Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide A Catalogue of Public and Private Sources of Financial, Technical, and Other Assistance for Pennsylvania’s Rural Communities Published by: The Center for Rural Pennsylvania 200 North Third St., Suite 600 Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 787-9555 phone (717) 772-3587 fax www.ruralpa.org In cooperation with: The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors 3001 Gettysburg Road Camp Hill, PA 17011-7296 (71 7) 763-0930 phone (1 77) 763-9732 fax www.psats.org The information contained in this guide is available online at the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s website at www.ruralpa.org. The Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide lists state, federal and nonprofitlfoundation resources that are available to Pennsylvania residents. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania has tried to be as accurate as possible in listing the lnformation included in the guide, and is not responsible for any errors that may be listed or omissions. Providing rural and small communities with the information they need to remain viable and healthy is at the heart of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s mission. Since it was established in 1987, the Center has been working to fulfill that mission by offering the more than 3.7 million rural residents information and support in a variety of formats. These include our publications, which are often based on the results of our grants programs; information from the only statewide, comprehensive database on rural trends and conditions; sponsorship of local and regional workshops and forums highhghting rural issues; and most recently, our website, which not only features important announcements and resources, but also a database on state, federal and nonprofit sources of grants, loans, technical services and contact information, called the Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania first published the original version of the Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide as a booklet in 1994. In the updated version of the guide, which is also I available on our website, the database includes an extensive compilation of resources for rural and small towns to make well-informed decisions and pertinent contacts. Also following in the footsteps of its predecessor, this database is not intended to be the final I stop for information. It is a starting point from which rural and small town residents might more successfully begin their journey through the maze of financial and informational sources that are available at both the state and national levels. The guide offers information on a variety of programs, and contact information for other state, federal and private organizations’ that will help you to continue your search. I Special thanks for compiling the information for this database goes to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, which worked with the Center for Rural 1 Pennsylvania on this project. 1 would also extend my gratitude to all of the state, federal and nonprofit agencies that responded to our request for information about their programs. I If you have questions about the information in the guide, or information that can be used to update the database, please contact the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. I Best of luck in your efforts on behalf of your rural community. Representative Sheila Miller Chairman TABLE OF CONTENTS Agency Index ...... 1 ...... 9 Program Type Index ...... 21 Grants ...... 21 Loans ...... 24 Other ...... 25 Technical Assistance ...... 26 Telephone Helplines ...... 28 Websites ...... 29 Category Index ...... 30 Agriculture ...... 30 . Community and Economic Development ...... 30 Conservation and the Environment ...... 31 Education and Training ...... 33 Emergency Management ...... 34 Employment, Labor and Workforce Development ...... 34 Food and Nutrition ...... 35 General ...... 35 Health and Human Services ...... 35 Housing ...... 1...... 37 Parks and Recreation ...... 38 Tourism ...... 38 Transportation and Infrastructure ...... 38 Agency and Program Listing ...... 40 Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 7 America the Beautiful Fund American Landscapes ...... 4 1 American Farmland Trust American Farmland Trust ...... 41 American Social Health Association Sexually Transmitted Disease Helpline ...... 42 Appalachian Regional Commission Appalachian Area Development ...... 42 Appalachian State Research, Technical Assistance, and Demonstration Projects ...... 43 Local Development District Assistance ...... 43 Center for Health, Environment and Justice Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Wastes ...... 45 Center for Rural Pennsylvania Center for Rural Pennsylvania Grant Program ...... 45 Citizens for the ~rtsin Pennsylvania Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania ...... 46 Community Resource Institute Community Resource Institute ...... 46 Directory of Charitable Grantmakers Directory of Charitable Grantmakers ...... 47 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Fire Academy Training Assistance ...... 47 Project Impact ...... 48 Governor’s Action Team Governor’s Action Team ...... 48 Grants Guide Plus, Inc. Pennsylvania Grants Guide ...... 49 National Archives and Records Administration National Historical Publications and Records Grants ...... 49 National Association of Towns and Townships National Association of Towns and Townships ...... 50 National Cancer Institute Cancer Information Service ...... 5 1 National Center for Small Communities National Center for Small Communities ...... 5 1 National Credit Union Administration Community Development Revolving Loan Program for Credit Unions (CDCU) ...... 5 1 Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide i I National Drinking Water Clearinghouse National Drinking Water Clearinghouse ...... 52 National Endowment for the Arts Promotion of the Arts: .Grants to Organizations and Individuals ...... 53 National Endowment for the Humanities Promotion of the Humanities: Challenge Grants ...... 54 Promotion of the Humanities: Public Programs ...... 55 National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities ...... 56 National Headache Foundation Headache Information ...... 56 National Network of Grantmakers National Network of Grantmakers ...... 56 National Small Flows Clearinghouse National Small Flows Clearinghouse ...... 57 National Tree Trust America's Treeways ...... 57 Community Tree Planting Program ...... 58 Partnership Enhancement Monetary Grant Program ...... 58 National Trust for Historic Preservation Cynthia Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors ...... i ...... 59 Heritage Tourism Program ...... 59 Johanna Favrot Fund ...... 60 National Main Street Center ...... 60 National Preservation Loan Fund ...... 61 Preservation Leadership Training Institute ...... 61 Preservation Services Fund ...... 61 Rural Heritage Program ...... 62 Oregon State University National Pesticide Telecom Network ...... 62 Pennsylvania Auditor General's Off ice Auditor General's Tipline ...... 62 Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association Criminal History Record Improvement Project ...... 63 Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Management Information System (PA-LEMIS) ...... 63 Supervisory Training ...... 64 Training Programs ...... 64 Pennsylvania Commission for Women .. .. Commission for Women Helpline ...... 65 lo Center for Rural Pennsylvania I I I I Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Drug Control and System Improvement Program ...... 65 I Drug Education and Law Enforcement Prograd Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) ...... 66 Intermediate Punishment Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program ...... 67 Intermediate Punishment Program ...... 67 I Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant Program (JAIBG) ...... 68 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program ...... 69 Law Enforcement Education Partnership ...... 70 I Project for Community Building .Community Crime Prevention ...... 71 Research-Based Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program ...... 71 STOP Violence Against Women Program ...... 1...... 72 I Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Local Government Division Grant ...... 73 I Pennsylvania Department of Aging Alzheimer’s Hotline ...... 74 Area Agencies on Aging ...... 74 1 Senior Community Center Capital Assistance Grant Program ...... 75 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Agricultural Product Promotion Matching Grant Program ...... 75 I Agriculture and Rural Youth Organization Grant Program ...... 76 Agriculture Linked Investment Program ...... 77 I Capital Improvement Grant ...... 1...... 78 Chemsweep ...... 78 Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) ...... 79 I Farmland Preservation Program ...... 80 Hardwoods Development Council Grants ...... 81 Next Generation Farmer Loan Program ...... 81 I Plan Development Incentives Program ...... 82 Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program ...... 83 State Food Purchase Program ...... 83 I Pennsylvania Department of Banking Banking Consumer Services ...... 84 I Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Ben Franklin Partnership Program - Challenge Grant Program ...... 84 Communities of Opportunity ...... 85 Community Conservation and Employment Program ...... 86 Community Development Block Grant ...... 87 Community Revitalization Program ...... 87 Community Service Block Grant Program ...... 88 Customer Service Center ...... 89 Customized Job Training Program ...... 89 Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 11 Emergency Shelter Grants ...... 90 I Enterprise Zone Program ...... 91 Export Financing Loan Program ...... 92 i Family Savings Account Program ...... 92 Film Office ...... 93 Floodplain Management Program ...... 94 1 Governor's Center for Local Government Services ...... 94 HOME Investment Partnership ...... 95 Industrial Sites Reuse Program ...... 95 1 Infrastructure Development Program ...... 96 Local Government Capital Loan Program ...... 97 Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund ...... 98 1 Neighborhood Assistance Program ...... 99 Pennsylvania Community Development Bank ...... 100 Pennsylvania Main Street Program ...... 101 1 Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority ...... 102 Regional Police Assistance Program ...... 103 1 Shared Municipal Services Program ...... 103 Small Business First ...... 104 Small Communities Planning Assistance ...... :...... 105 'I State Planning Assistance Grants ...... 106 Team Pennsylvania ...... 107 Travel and Tourism Office ...... 108 1 Underground Storage Tank Upgrade Loan Program ...... 109 World Class Communities ...... 110 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) 1 Geologic and Topographic Information Services ...... 110 Illegal Dumpsite Hotline ...... 111 Keystone Community Grants Program ...... 111 1 Keystone Land Trust Program ...... 112 Mini Grants Program (Bureau of Forestry) ...... 113 1 Municipal Tree Restoration Program ...... 113 National Recreational Trails ...... 114 Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program ...... 115 1 Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Program ...... 116 Rails-to-Trails Grant Program ...... 117 Rivers Conservation Program ...... 117 1 State Park Reservations and Information ...... 118 Technical Assistance Program ...... 118 Volunteer Fire Assistance ...... 119 1 I Center for Rural Pennsylvania I I I I Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Adult Affidavit ...... 120 I Keystone Recreation. Park. and Conservation Fund Grant Program for Public Library Fund ...... 120 Library Services and Technology Act NETShare ...... 122 Link-to-Learn Basic Education Grant ...... 122 I Special Education ConsultLine ...... 123 State Aid to Public Libraries ...... 123 I Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 24-hour Environmental Emergency Hotline ...... :...... 124 Act 101 - Host Municipality Independent Permit Review Grants ...... 124 i Act 101 - Planning Grants ...... 125 Act 101 - Recycling Coordinator Grants ...... 126 Act 101 - Recycling Grants ...... 126 I Act 101 - Recycling Performance Grants ...... 127 Act 190 - Waste Tire Pile Remediation Grants ...... 128 Act 537 - Reimbursement for Enforcing the Sewage Facilities Act ...... 129 1 Act 537 - Sewage Facilities Planning Assistance ...... i ...... 129 Act 537 - Sewage Management Program Administration Reimbursement ...... 130 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program ...... 131 I Clean Water Act, Section104 (b)(3) ...... 132 County Water Supply Planning Grant Program ...... 132 Drought Hotline ...... 133 I Environmental Education Grants Program ...... 133 Growing Greener ...... 134 I Low-Level Radioactive Waste Helpline ...... 134 Oil and Gas Well Assistance ...... 135 Pennsylvania Envirohelp Hotline ...... :...... 135 I Pennsylvania Small Towns Environment Program (PENN STEP) ...... 136 Radon Helpline ...... 136 Recycling Helpline ...... 136 I Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account ...... 137 Small Operator Assistance Program (SOAP) ...... 137 Small Water Systems Regionalization Grant Program ...... 138 ~I Storage Tank Helpline ...... 139 Stormwater Planning and Management Grant Program ...... 139 I Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) Cooperative Purchasing Program ...... 140 Federal Surplus Property Program ...... 141 I Federal Surplus Property Program Helpline ...... 141 Law Enforcement Property Program ...... 142 Software Licensing Program ...... 142 I State Surplus Property Program ...... 143 1 Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 13 I iI 1 Pennsylvania Department of Health AIDS Factline ...... 143 Community Challenge Grant Program ...... 143 1 Drug and Alcohol Information ...... 144 Health Information Line ...... 145 J-1 Visa Waiver Program ...... 145 1 Lead Poisoning Hotline ...... 145 Loan Repayment Program ...... 146 Local Public Health Programs ...... 147 1 Organ Donor Helpline ...... 147 Renal Disease Information ...... 148 Research and Information Clearinghouse ...... 148 1 Special Kids Network Helpline ...... 148 Statewide Adoption Network ...... 148 1 Teenline ...... 148 Universal Service for Rural Health Care Providers ...... 149 Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry 8 Agricultural Recruitment System ...... 150 Amencorps ...... 151 Collective Bargaining Mediation ...... 151 [I Independence Capital Access Network ...... 152 Learn and Serve America ...... 153 Pennsylvania Conservation Corps ...... 153 1 Pennsylvania Conservation Corps Helpline ...... 154 Team Pennsylvania CareerLink System ...... 154 1 Workers' Compensation Helpline ...... 155 Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Title I Adult, Youth and Dislocated Worker Programs ...... 155 Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) I Child Abuse Hotline ...... 156 County Boards of Assistance ...... 157 Employment and Job Training Contracting ...... 157 1 Welfare Assistance Helpline ...... 157 Pennsylvania Department of Revenue I Tax Forms Ordering Message Service ...... 158 Taxpayer Service and Information Center ...... 158 Pennsylvania Department of State 1 Charities Registration Line ...... 158 i 1 . I 14 Center Rural Pennsylvania i for I I I I Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Agility Program ...... 158 I Aviation Development Program ...... :...... 159 Customer Call Center ...... 159 Highway Turnback Program ...... 160 I Intercity Bus Operating Assistance Program ...... 160 LTAP-The Pennsylvania Local Roads Program ...... 161 Motorcycle Safety Program ...... 162 I Municipal Training Program ...... 162 New Product Evaluation for Municipal Government ...... 163 Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank ...... 163. I Pennsylvania Local Bridge Program ...... 164 Pennsylvania Twelve-Year Transportation Program ...... 165 I Rural Transportation Program ...... :...... 165 Section 16 Program ...... 166 State Block Grant Program (for publicly owned airports) ...... 167 I Transit Research and Demonstration Program ...... 168 Transportation Enhancements ...... :...... 168 Pennsylvania Department of Treasury I Unclaimed Property Hotline ...... 169 Pennsylvania Economy League I Pennsylvania Economy League ...... + ...... 169 Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Act 147 - Radiation Transportation Emergency Response Fund ...... 170 1 Act 147 - Radiological Emergency Response Fund ...... 171 Act 165 - Hazardous Material Response Fund ...... 172 Flood Mitigation Assistance Program ...... 173 I Hazard Mitigation Grant Program ...... 174 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant ...... 175 Pennsylvania State Fire Academy ...... 176 I Public Assistance ...... 176 State and Local Assistance Program ...... 177 I Pennsylvania Farm Link Pennsylvania Farm Link ...... 178 Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations I Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations ...... 179 Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission I Boating Access Technical Assistance Program ...... 1 ...... 179 I I Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 15 I i,I AGENCY INDEX (CONTINUED) 1 Pennsylvania Game Commission Cooperative Public Access Program ...... 180 Hunter-Trapper Education ...... 180 1 WILD ACTION Grant Program ...... :...... 181 Pennsylvania Governor’s Office Commonwealth Information Center ...... 181 1 Latino Affairs Helpline ...... 182 Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) I Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness Program ...... 182 Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program ...... 183 Early Childhood Education Professional Loan Forgiveness hogram ...... 184 1 Educational Assistance Program for National Guard Members ...... 184 Keystone EXTRA Loans ...... 185 Keystone PLUS Loans ...... 186 I Keystone Rewards Stafford Loans ...... 187 Keystone Stafford Loans ...... 187 Partnerships for Access to Higher Education (PATH) ...... 188 I Pennsylvania State Grant Program ...... 189 Pennsylvania State Work-Study Program ...... 190 Post-Secondary Educational Gratuity Program ...... 191 ‘I POW/MIA State Grant Program ...... 191 Robert C . Byrd Honors Scholarship ...... 192 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission I Certified Local Government Program (CLG)...... 193 Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program ...... 194 I Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Closing Cost Assistance Program ...... i ...... 195 Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEW) ...... 195 I Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program ...... 196 Lower Income Homeownership Program ...... 197 Mortgage Helpline for First-Time Home Buyers ...... 197 I PennHOMES ...... :...... 198 Statewide Homeownership Program ...... 198 I Taxable and Tax-Exempt Bond Financing ...... 199 Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) Construction Loan Program - Water/Sewer/Stormwater ...... 200 I Individual On-lot Sewage Disposal System Program ...... 200 Pennsylvania Institute of State and Regional Affairs . Pennsylvania State Data Center ...... 201 u I 16 Center for Rural Pennrylvania I I I Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Alcohol Education ...... 202 I Pennsylvania Off ice of Attorney General Municipal Police Drug Task Force Program ...... 202 Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector General I Inspector General Helpline ...... 203 Pennsylvania One Call System. Inc. I Pennsylvania One Call ...... 203 Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) I PUC Service Helpline ...... 203 Utility Consumer Complaints ...... 203 Pennsylvania Rural Development Council I Pennsylvania Rural Development Council ...... 204 Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission Ethics Law Information ...... 204 I Pennsylvania State Police Civil Disorders ...... 204 Crime Laboratory ...... 205 I In-Service Training (for police officers) ...... 205 Liquor Control Enforcement ...... 206 I Municipal Police Computer Training ...... 207 Municipal Police Training ...... 207 Recruit Training for Municipal Police ...... :...... :...... 208 I Toll-Free Action Line ...... 208 Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Community Development Program ...... 209 I Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach ...... 209 Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health ...... 210 Pennsylvania Rural Leadership Program (RULE) ...... 210 I Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENNTAP) ...... 211 Phoenix House I Cocaine Hotline ...... 212 Pittsburgh Foundation Pittsburgh Foundation ...... 212 I Preservation Pennsylvania Preservation Fund of Pennsylvania ...... :...... 212 1 Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly PACE Prescription Drug Assistance ...... 213 II I Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide I cl Robert Wood Johnson Foundation I Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ...... 213 School and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company I Universal Service Discount Program (E-Rate) ...... 214 State System of Higher Education (SSHE) State Universities ...... 215 I Texas Council on Family Violence National Domestic Violence Hotline ...... 215 I The Commonwealth Fund The Commonwealth Fund ...... A...... 2 16 The Foundation Center I The Foundation Center ...... 216 The Heinz Endowments 1 Heinz Endowments ...... 217 The Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace Drug-Free Workplace ...... 217 I 12th Congressional Region Equipment Center 12th Congressional Region Equipment Center ...... 218 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ‘I Consumer Product Safety Helpline ...... 2 18 U.S. Department of Agriculture I Community Food Projects ...... 21 8 Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) ...... 219 Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) ...... 220 I U.S. Department of Commerce Grants for Public Works and Economic Development ...... 221 I Public Telecommunications Facilities: Planning and Construction ...... 222 Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program ...... 223 University Centers Program ...... 224 I U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Information Center ...... 225 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities: National Programs ...... 225 I Technology Innovation Challenge Grants ...... 226 U.S. Department of Energy I Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons ...... 227 :I i 18 Center for Rural Pennsylvania I I I I U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agricultural Health and Safety Programs ...... 228 1 Community Health Centers ...... 229 Development and Coordination of Rural Health Services ...... 230 Interdisciplinary Training for Health Care for Rural Areas ...... 230 I Mental Health Research Grants ...... 231 Rural Health Research Centers ...... 233 Rural Telemedicine Grant Program ...... 233 I U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grants/Special Purpose Grants/Technical Assistance Program ...... 234 Manufactured Home Loan Insurance Program ...... 235 : I Neighborhood Networks ...... 236 US. Department of Justice I Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program (BVP) ...... 236 Corrections and Law Enforcement Family Support (CLEFS) ...... 237 Federal Surplus Property Transfer Program ...... 238 I U.S. Department of Labor Welfare-to-Work Competitive Grants ...... 239 I U.S. Department of the Interior Disposal of Federal Surplus Real Property for Parks, Recreation, and Historic Monuments ...... 240 US. Department of Transportation I Auto Safety Hotline ...... 241 US. Economic Development Administration (EDA) I Local Technical Assistance Program ...... 241 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Right-to-Know Helpline ...... 242 I Hazardous Waste Information ...... 242 Local Government Reimbursement ...... :...... 242 Safe Drinking Water Hotline ...... 243 1 Wetland Development Grant Program ...... 243 Wetlands Information Hotline ...... 244 U.S. General Services Administration I Disposal of Federal Surplus Real Property ...... 244 US. Office for Juvenile Justice I Missing and Exploited Children Helpline ...... 245 I I Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 19 U.S. Small Business Administration Management and Technical Assistance for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses ...... :...... 245 Microloan Demonstration Program ...... 246 Small Business Information ...... 247 Small Business Investment Companies ...... 247 Small Business Loans ...... 248 U.S. Social Security Administration Social Security Helpline ...... 249 USDA Rural Development Mission Area Programs Business and Industry Direct Loans ...... 249 Business and Industry Loan Guarantees ...... 250 I Community Development Technical Assistance ...... 250 Community Facilities Programs ...... 251 Cooperative Development Technical Assistance ...... 252 1 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants ...... 252 Electric and Telecommunication Loans and Guarantees ...... 253 Farm Labor Housing ...... 254 Housing Preservation Grants ...... 254 Intermediary Relending Program Loans ...... 255 Rural Business Enterprise Grants ...... 256 Rural Cooperative Development Grants ...... 256 Rural Development Grants ...... 1...... 257 Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants ...... 258 Rural Rental Housing for Families and the Elderly, Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees ...... 259 Self-Help Housing Loans ...... 259 Single-Family Home Ownership Loan Guarantees ...... 260 Single-Family Home Ownership Loans ...... 261 Single-Family Home Repair Loans and Grants ...... 261 Solid Waste Management Grants ...... 262 Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees ...... 263 Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants ...... 263 West Virginia University National Environmental Training Center ...... 264 20 Center for Rural Pennsylvania I I I GRANTS Act 101 .Host Municipality Independent Permit Review Grants ...... 124 I Act 101 .Planning Grants ...... 125 Act 101 - Recycling Coordinator Grants ...... :...... 126 Act 101 - Recycling Grants ...... 126 I Act 101 - Recycling Performance Grants ...... 127 Act 147 - Radiation Transportation Emergency Response Fund ...... 170 ~IAct 147 - Radiological Emergency Response Fund ...... 171 Act 165 - Hazardous Material Response Fund ...... 172 Act 190 - Waste Tire Pile Remediation Grants ...... 128 I Act 537 - Reimbursement for Enforcing the Sewage Facilities Act ...... 129.. Act 537 - Sewage Facilities Planning Assistance ...... 129 Act 537 - Sewage Management.Program Administration Reimbursement ...... 130 I Agricultural Product Promotion Matching Grant Program ...... 75 Agriculture and Rural Youth Organization Grant Program ...... 76 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program ...... 131 I Americas Treeways ...... 57 Amencorps ...... 151 Appalachian Area Development ...... 1...... 42 I Appalachian State Research, Technical Assistance, and Demonstration Projects ...... 43 Aviation Development Program ...... 159 I Ben Franklin Partnership Program - Challenge Grant Program ...... 84 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program (BVP) ...... 236 Capital Improvement Grant ...... 78 I Center for Rural Pennsylvania Grant Program ...... 45 Certified Local Government Program (CLG) ...... 193 Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program ...... 183 I Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania ...... 46 Clean Water Act, Section104 (b)(3) ...... 132 Communities of Opportunity ...... 85 1 Community Challenge Grant Program ...... 143 Community Conservation and Employment Program ...... 86 Community Development Block Grant ...... 87 I Community Development Block Grants/Special Purpose GrantsRechnical Assistance Program ...... 234 Community Food Projects ...... 218 I Community Health Centers ...... 229 Community Revitalization Program ...... 87 Community Service Block Grant Program ...... 88 I Corrections and Law Enforcement Family Support (CLEFS) ...... 237 County Boards of Assistance ...... 157 County Water Supply Planning Grant Program ...... 132 I Customized Job Training Program ...... 89 Cynthia Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors ...... 59 I Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 21 PROGRAM TYPE INDEX (comnwm) GRANTS Development and Coordination of Rural Health Services ...... 230 Drug Control and System Improvement Program ...... 65 Drug Education and Law Enforcement Program/ Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) ...... 66 Educational Assistance Program for National Guard Members ...... 184 Emergency Shelter Grants ...... 90 Enterprise Zone Program ...... 91 Environmental Education Grants Program ...... 133 Family Savings Account Program ...... 92 Farmland Preservation Program ...... 80 Flood Mitigation Assistance Program ...... 173 Floodplain Management Program ...... :...... 94 Grants for Public Works and Economic Development ...... 221 Hardwoods Development Council Grants ...... 81 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program ...... 174 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant ...... 175 Heinz Endowments ...... 217 HOME Investment Partnership ...... 95 Housing Preservation Grants ...... 254 In-Service Training (for police officers) ...... 205 Independence Capital Access Network ...... 152 Industrial Sites Reuse Program ...... 95 Infrastructure Development Program ...... 96 Intercity Bus Operating Assistance Program ...... 160 Interdisciplinary Training for Health Care for Rural Areas ...... 230 Intermediate Punishment Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program ...... 67 Intermediate Punishment Program ...... 67 Johanna Favrot Fund ...... 60 Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant Program (JAIBG) ...... 68 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program ...... 69 Keystone Community Grants Program ...... :...... 111 Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program ...... 194 Keystone Land Trust Program ...... 112 Keystone Recreation. Park. and Conservation Fund Grant Program for Public Library Fund ...... 120 Law Enforcement Education Partnership ...... 70 Learn and Serve America ...... 153 Library Services and Technology Act NETShare ...... 122 Link-to-Learn Basic Education Grant ...... 122 Local Development District Assistance ...... 43 Local Government Division Grant ...... 73 Local Government Reimbursement ...... 242 Local Technical Assistance Program ...... 241 Management and Technical Assistance for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses ...... 245 22 Center for Rural Pennsylvania I I I 1 GRANTS Mental Health Research Grants ...... 231 I Mini Grants Program (Bureau of Forestry) ...... 113 National Fire Academy Training Assistance ...... 47 National Historical Publications and Records Grants ...... 49 I National Recreational Trails ...... :...... 114 Partnership Enhancement Monetary Grant Program ...... 58 Partnerships for Access to Higher Education (PATH) ...... 188 1 Pennsylvania Community Development Bank ...... 100 Pennsylvania Conservation Corps ...... 153 Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program ...... 115. I Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Management Information System (PA-LEMIS) ...... 63 Pennsylvania Local Bridge Program ...... 164 I Pennsylvania Main Street Program ...... 101 Pennsylvania State Grant Program ...... 189 Pennsylvania Twelve-Year Transportation Program ...... 165 I Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Program ...... 116 Pittsburgh Foundation ...... :...... 212 Plan Development Incentives Program ...... 82 I POW/MIA State Grant Program ...... 191 Preservation Fund of Pennsylvania ...... 212 Preservation Services Fund ...... 61 I Project for Community Building - Community Crime Prevention ...... 71 Project Impact ...... 48 Promotion of the Arts: Grants to Organizations and Individuals ...... 53 I Promotion of the Humanities: Challenge Grants ...... 54 Promotion of the Humanities: Public Programs ...... 55 I Public Assistance ...... 176 Public Telecommunications Facilities: Planning and Construction ...... 222 Rails-to-Trails Grant Program ...... 117 I Recruit Training for Municipal Poke...... 208 Research-Based Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program ...... 71 Rivers Conservation Program ...... ;...... 117 . I Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ...... 213 Rural Business Enterprise Grants ...... 256 Rural Cooperative Development Grants ...... 256 1 Rural Development Grants ...... 257 Rural Health Research Centers ...... 233 Rural Telemedicine Grant Program ...... 233 I Rural Transportation Program ...... 165 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities: National Programs ...... 225 I Section 16 Program ...... 166 Senior Community Center Capital Assistance Grant Program ...... :... 75 I Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 23 I GRANTS Shared Municipal Services Program ...... 103 Single-Family Home Repair Loans and Grants ...... 261 1 Small Communities Planning Assistance ...... 105 Small Operator Assistance Program (SOAP) ...... 137 Small Water Systems Regionalization Grant Program ...... 138 1 Solid Waste Management Grants ...... 262 State and Local Assistance Program ...... 177 State Block Grant Program (for publicly owned airports) ...... 167 1 State Food Purchase Program ...... 83 State Planning Assistance Grants ...... 106 STOP Violence Against Women Program ...... 72 ! Stormwater Planning and Management Grant Program ...... 139 Technology Innovation Challenge Grants ...... 226 I Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program ...... 223 The Commonwealth Fund ...... 216 Transit Research and Demonstration Program ...... 168 I Transportation Enhancements ...... 168 Travel and Tourism Office ...... 108 Universal Service Discount Program (E-Rate) ...... 214 iI University Centers Program ...... 224 Volunteer Fire Assistance ...... 119 Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants ...... 263 1 Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons ...... 227 Welfare-to-Work Competitive Grants ...... 239 Wetland Development Grant Program ...... 243 1 WILD ACTION Grant Program ...... 181 World Class Communities ...... 110 I LOANS I Agriculture Linked Investment Program ...... 77 Business and Industry Direct Loans ...... 249 Business and Industry Loan Guarantees ...... 250 1 Closing Cost Assistance Program ...... 195 Community Development Revolving Loan Program for Credit Unions (CDCU) ...... 51 Community Facilities Programs ...... 251 1 Construction Loan Program - Water/Sewer/Stormwater ...... 200 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants ...... 252 Electric and Telecommunication Loans and Guarantees ...... 253 1 Export Financing Loan Program ...... 92 Farm Labor Housing ...... 254 1 Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) ...... 195 24 Center for Rural Pennsylvania I LOANS Individual &-lot Sewage Disposal System Program ...... 200 Intermediary Relending Program Loans ...... !...... 255 Keystone EXTRA Loans ...... 185 Keystone PLUS Loans ...... 186 Keystone Rewards Stafford Loans ...... 187 Keystone Stafford Loans ...... 187 Loan Repayment Program ...... 146 Local Government Capital Loan Program ...... 97 Lower Income Homeownership Program ...... 197 Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund ...... 98 Manufactured Home Loan Insurance Program ...... 235 Microloan Demonstration Program ...... 246 National Preservation Loan Fund ...... 61 Next Generation Farmer Loan Program ...... 81 PennHOMES ...... 198 Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank ...... 163 Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority ...... 102 Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants ...... 258 Rural Rental Housing for Families and the Elderly, Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees ...... 259 Self-Help Housing Loans ...... 259 Single-Family Home Ownership Loan Guarantees ...... 260 Single-Family Home Ownership Loans ...... i ...... 261 Small Business First ...... 104 Small Business Investment Companies ...... 247 Small Business Loans ...... 248 Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account ...... :...... 137 Statewide Homeownership Program ...... 198 Underground Storage Tank Upgrade Loan Program ...... 109 Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees ...... 263 OTHER 12th Congressional Region Equipment Center ...... 218 Adult Affidavit ...... 120 Agility Program ...... 158 Agricultural Health and Safety Programs ...... 228 Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness Program ...... 182 Area Agencies on Aging ...... 74 Community Tree Planting Program ...... 58 Cooperative Public Access Program ...... 180 Cooperative Purchasing Program ...... 140 Disposal of Federal Surplus Real Property ...... 244 Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 25 OTHER Disposal of Federal Surplus Real Property for Parks. Recreation. and Historic Monuments ...... 240 Early Childhood Education Professional Loan Forgiveness Program ...... 184 Employment and Job Training Contracting ...... 157 Farmers Market Nutrition Program (Fh4NP) ...... 79 Federal Surplus Property Program ...... 141 Federal Surplus Property Transfer Program ...... 238 Hunter-Trapper Education ...... 180 Local Public Health Programs ...... 147 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program ...... 196 Municipal Police Drug Task Force Program ...... 202 Neighborhood Assistance Program ...... 99 Neighborhood Networks ...... 236 New Product Evaluation for Municipal Government ...... 163 Pennsylvania Rural Leadership Program (RULE) ...... 210 . Pennsylvania State Data Center ...... 201 Pennsylvafiia State Work-Study Program ...... 190 Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program ...... 83 Post-Secondary Educational Gratuity Program ...... 191 Robert C . Byrd Honors Scholarship ...... 192 State Aid to Public Libraries ...... 123 State Surplus Property Program ...... 143 State Universities ...... 215 Taxable and Tax-Exempt Bond Financing ...... 199 Team Pennsylvania ...... 107 Team Pennsylvania CareerLink System ...... 154 Universal Service for Rural Health Care Providers ...... 149 Wetlands Reserve Program ...... 220 Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Title I Adult, Youth and Dislocated Worker Programs ...... 155 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Agricultural Recruitment System ...... 150 American Farmland Trust ...... 41 1 American Landscapes ...... 41 Boating Access Technical Assistance Program ...... 179 Chemsweep ...... 78 I Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Wastes ...... 45 Civil Disorders ...... 20.1 ,I Collective Bargaining Mediation ...... 151 L Community Development Program ...... 209 Community Development Technical Assistance ...... 250 CooDerative Development Technical Assistance ...... 252 26 Center for Rural Pennsylvania I TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Crime Laboratory ...... 205 Criminal History Record Improvement Project ...... 63 Drug-Free Workplace ...... 217 Film Office ...... 93 Geologic and Topographic Information Services ...... 110 Heritage Tourism Program ...... 59 Highway Turnback Program ...... 160 J-1 Visa Waiver Program ...... 145 Law Enforcement Property Program ...... 142 Liquor Control Enforcement ...... 206 LTAP-The Pennsylvania Local Roads Program ...... 161 Municipal Police Computer Training ...... 207 Municipal Police Training ...... 207 Municipal Training Program ...... 162 Municipal Tree Restoration Program ...... 113 National Association of Towns and Townships ...... 50 National Center for Small Communities ...... 51 National Drinking Water Clearinghouse ...... 52 National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities ...... ;...... 56 National Main Street Center ...... 60 National Small Flows Clearinghouse ...... 57 Oil and Gas Well Assistance ...... 135 Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach ...... 209 Pennsylvania Economy League ...... 169 Pennsylvania Farm Link ...... 178 Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations ...... 1...... 179 Pennsylvania Grants Guide ...... 49 Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health ...... 210 Pennsylvania Rural Development Council ...... ;...... 204 Pennsylvania Small Towns Environment Program (PEW STEP) ...... 136 Pennsylvania State Fire Academy ...... i ...... 176 Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENNTAP) ...... 211 Preservation Leadership Training Institute ...... i ...... 61 Regional Police Assistance Program ...... 103 Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) ...... 219 Rural Heritage Program ...... 62 Software Licensing Program ...... 142 Supervisory Training ...... 64 Technical Assistance Program ...... 118 Training Programs ...... 64 Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 21 I I.I PROGRAM TYPE TELEPHONE HEL PLINES I 24-hour Environmental Emergency Hotline ...... 124 AIDS Factline ...... ;...... 143 i Alcohol Education ...... 202 .Alzheimer's Hotline ...... 74 Auditor General's Tipline ...... 62 1 Auto Safety Hotline ...... 241 Banking Consumer Services ...... 84 Cancer Information Service ...... 51 1 Charities Registration Line ...... 158 Child Abuse Hotline ...... 156 I Cocaine Hotline ...... 212 Commission for Women Helpline ...... :...... 65 Commonwealth Information Center ...... 181 I Community Right-to-Know Helpline ...... 242 Consumer Product Safety Helpline ...... 218 Customer Call Center ...... 159 1 Customer Service Center ...... 89 Drought Hotline ...... 133 Drug and Alcohol Information ...... 144 'I Ethics Law Infomation ...... 204 Federal Student Aid Information Center ...... :...... 225 Federal Surplus Property Program Helpline ...... 141 1 Governor's Action Team ...... 48 Governor's Center for Local Government Services ...... 94 Growing Greener ...... 134 1 Hazardous Waste Information ...... 242 Headache Information ...... 56 1 Health Information Line ...... 145 Illegal Dumpsite Hotline ...... 111 Inspector General Helpline ...... 203 1 Latino Affairs Helpline ...... 182 Lead Poisoning Hotline ...... 145 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Helpline ...... 134 1 Missing and Exploited Children Helpline ...... 245 Mortgage Helpline for First-Time Home Buyers ...... 197 Motorcycle Safety Program ...... 162 1 National Domestic Violence Hotline ...... 215 National Environmental Training Center ...... 264 1 National Pesticide Telecom Network ...... 62 Organ Donor Helpline ...... 147 PACE Prescription Drug Assistance ...... 213 1 28 Center for Rural Pennsylvania 1 I I I TELEPHONE HEL PLINES Pennsylvania Conservation Corps Helpline ...... 154 I Pennsylvania Envirohelp Hotline ...... 135 Pennsylvania One Call ...... 203 PUC Service Helpline ...... 203 I Radon Helpline ...... 136 Recycling Helpline ...... 136 Renal Disease Information ...... 148 I Research and Information Clearinghouse ...... 148 Safe Drinking Water Hotline ...... 243 I Sexually Transmitted Disease Helpline ...... 42 . Small Business Information ...... 247 Social Security Helpline ...... 249 I Special Education ConsultLine ...... 123 Special Kids Network Helpline ...... 148 State Park Reservations and Information ...... 118 I Statewide Adoption Network ...... 148 Storage Tank Helpline ...... 139 Tax Forms Ordering Message Service ...... 158 I Taxpayer Service and Information Center ...... 158 Teenline ...... 148 Toll-Free Action Line ...... 208 I Unclaimed Property Hotline ...... 169 Utility Consumer Complaints ...... 203 I Welfare Assistance Helpline ...... 157 Wetlands Information Hotline ...... 244 I Workers' Compensation Helpline ...... 155 WEB SITES I Community Resource Institute ...... 46 Directory of Charitable Grantmakers ...... 47 National Network of Grantmakers ...... 56 I The Foundation Center ...... 216 I I I c Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 29 I 1 I AGRICULTURE Agricultural Health and Safety Programs ...... 228 Agricultural Product Promotion Matching Grant Program ...... 75 i Agricultural Recruitment System ...... 150 Agriculture and Rural Youth Organization Grant Program ...... 76 Agriculture Linked Investment Program ...... 77 1 American Farmland Trust ...... 41 Capital Improvement Grant ...... 78 I Cooperative Development Technical Assistance ...... 252 Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) ...... 79 Next Generation Farmer Loan Program ...... 81 1 Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach ...... 209 Pennsylvania Farm Link ...... 178 Plan Development Incentives Program ...... 82 1 COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Appalachian State Research. Technical Assistance. and Demonstration Projects ...... 43 Banking Consumer Services ...... 84 Communities of Opportunity ...... 85 Community Conservation and Employment Program ...... 86 Community Development Block Grant ...... :...... 87 Community Development Block Grants/Special Purpose Grantsflechnical Assistance Program ...... 234 Community Development Program ...... 209 Community Development.Revolving Loan Program for Credit Unions (CDCU) ...... 51 Community Development Technical Assistance ...... 250 Community Facilities Programs ...... ;...... 251 Community Revitalization Program ...... 87 Customer Service Center ...... 89 Enterprise Zone Program ...... 91 Export Financing Loan Program ...... 92 Film Office ...... 93 Governor's Action Team ...... 48 Governor's Center for Local Government Services ...... 94 Grants for Public Works and Economic Development ...... 221 Hardwoods Development Council Grants ...... 81 Intermediary Relending Program Loans ...... 255 Local Development District Assistance ...... 43 Local Technical Assistance Program ...... 241 Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund ...... 98 Microloan Demonstration Program ...... 246 National Network of Grantmakers ...... 56 Pennsylvania Community Development Bank ...... 100 30 Center for Rural Pennsylvania I I I COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Pennsylvania Economy League ...... 169 I Pennsylvania Main Street Program ...... 101 Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority ...... 102 Pennsylvania Rural Development Council ...... 204 i Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENNTAP) ...... 211 Preservation Services Fund ...... 61 Rural Business Enterprise Grants ...... 256 I Rural Cooperative Development Grants ...... 256 Rural Development Grants ...... 257 Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants ...... 258 I Shared Municipal Services Program ...... 103 Small Business First ...... 104 Small Business Investment Companies ...... 247 I Small Business Loans ...... 248 Small Communities Planning Assistance ...... 105 1 State Planning Assistance Grants ...... 106 Team Pennsylvania CareerLink System ...... 154 University Centers Program ...... 224 I World Class Communities ...... 10 I CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT 24-hour Environmental Emergency Hotline ...... 24 Act 101 .Recycling Coordinator Grants ...... 26 1 Act 101 - Recycling Grants ...... 26 Act 101 .Recycling Performance Grants ...... 127 I Act 190 .Waste Tire Pile Remediation Grants ...... 1...... 128 Act 537 .Reimbursement for Enforcing the Sewage Facilities Act ...... 129 Act 537 .Sewage Facilities Planning Assistance ...... 129 I Act 537 .Sewage Management Program Administration Reimbursement ...... :...... 130 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program ...... 131 American Landscapes ...... 41 I AmeriCorps ...... 151 Boating Access Technical Assistance Program ...... 179 Chemsweep ...... 78 I Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Wastes ...... 45 Clean Water Act, Section104 (b)(3) ...... 132 Community Tree Planting Program ...... 58 I Cooperative Public Access Program ...... 180 County Water Supply Planning Grant Program ...... 132 Cynthia Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors ...... 59 I Environmental Education Grants Program ...... 133 I Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 31 I iI CATEGORY INDEX (CONTINUED) CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT 1 Farmland Preservation Program ...... 80 Growing Greener ...... 134 1 Industrial Sites Reuse Program ...... 95 Johanna Favrot Fund ...... 60 Keystone Community Grants Program ...... 111 1 Keystone Land Trust Program ...... 112 Local Public Health Programs ...... 147 1 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Helpline ...... 134 Mini Grants Program (Bureau of Forestry) ...... 113 Municipal Tree Restoration Program ...... 113 I National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities ...... 56 National Historical Publications and Records Grants ...... 49 National Preservation Loan Fund ...... 61 I Oil and Gas Well Assistance ...... 135 Pennsylvania Conservation Corps ...... 153 Pennsylvania Conservation Corps Helpline ...... 154 1 Pennsylvania Envirohelp Hotline ...... 135 Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program ...... 115 Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Program ...... 116 1 Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program ...... 83 Preservation Fund of Pennsylvania ...... 212 Rails-to-Trails Grant Program ...... 117 1 Recycling Helpline ...... 136 Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) ...... 219 1 Rivers Conservation Program ...... ~ ...... 117 Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account ...... 137 Small Operator Assistance Program (SOAP) ...... 137 1 Small Water Systems Regionalization Grant Program ...... 138 Stomwater Planning and Management Grant Program ...... 139 Technical Assistance Program ...... 118 1 Underground Storage Tank Upgrade Loan Program ...... 109 Wetland Development Grant Program ...... 243 Wetlands Information Hotline ...... 244 1 Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) ...... 220 WILD ACTION Grant Program ...... 181 1 I . Centerfor Rural Pennsylvania I I I i EDUCATION AND TRAINING AmeriCorps ...... 151 I Adult Affidavit ...... 120 Appalachian Area Development ...... 42 Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program ...... 183 I Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loans and Grants ...... 252 Early Childhood Education Professional Loan Forgiveness Program ...... 184 Educational Assistance Program for National Guard Members ...... 184 I Family Savings Account Program ...... 92 Federal Student Aid Information Center ...... 225 I Hunter-Trapper Education ...... 180- In-Service Training (for police officers) ...... 205 Interdisciplinary Training for Health Care for Rural Areas ...... 230 I J-1 Visa Waiver Program ...... 145 Keystone EXTRA Loans ...... 185 Keystone PLUS Loans ...... 186 1 Keystone Rewards Stafford Loans ...... 187 Keystone Stafford Loans ...... 187 Learn and Serve America ...... 153 I Library Services and Technology Act NETShare ...... 122 Link-to-Learn Basic Education Grant ...... 122 Loan Repayment Program ...... 146 I LTAP-The Pennsylvania Local Roads Program ...... 161 Management and Technical Assistance for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses ...... 245 Municipal Police Computer Training ...... 207 I Municipal Police Training ...... 207 Municipal Training Program ...... 162 I National Fire Academy Training Assistance ...... 47 National Main Street Center ...... 60 Neighborhood Assistance Program ...... 99 I Partnership Enhancement Monetary Grant Program ...... 58 Partnerships for Access to Higher Education (PATH) ...... i ...... 188 Pennsylvania Grants Guide ...... 49 I Pennsylvania Rural Leadership Program (RULE) ...... 210 Pennsylvania State Grant Program ...... 189 Pennsylvania State Work-Study Program ...... 190 I Preservation Leadership Training Institute ...... 61 Promotion of the Arts: Grants to Organizations and.Individua1.s...... 53 I Promotion of the Humanities: Challenge Grants ...... 54 Recruit Training for Municipal Police ...... 208 Regional Police Assistance Program ...... 103 I Robert C . Byrd Honors Scholarship ...... 192 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ...... 213 I Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 33 I CA TEGORY INDEX (CoNTiNum) il EDUCATION AND TRAINING I Rural Heritage hogram ...... 62 Small Business Information ...... 247 i Solid Waste Management Grants ...... 262 Special Education ConsultLine ...... 123 State Aid to Public Libraries ...... 123 State Universities ...... 215 Supervisory Training ...... 64 Team Pennsylvania ...... 107 Technology Innovation Challenge Grants ...... 226 Training Programs ...... 64 Universal Service Discount Program (E-Rate) ...... 214 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Act 147 .Radiation Transportation Emergency Response Fund ...... :...... 170 Act 147 - Radiological Emergency Response Fund ...... 171 Act 165 - Hazardous Material Response Fund ...... 172 Community Right-to-Know Helpline ...... 242 Emergency Shelter Grants ...... 90 Flood Mitigation Assistance Program ...... 173 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program ...... 174 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant ...... 175 Hazardous Waste Information ...... 242 Local Government Reimbursement ...... 242 Pennsylvania State Fire Academy ...... 176 Project Impact ...... 48 State and Local Assistance Program ...... 177 Volunteer Fire Assistance ...... ;...... 119 EMPLOYMENT, LABOR. AND WORKFORCE Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness Program ...... 182 Ben Franklin Partnership Program .Challenge Grant Program ...... 84 Business and. Industry Direct Loans ...... 249 Business and Industry Loan Guarantees ...... 250 Collective Bargaining Mediation ...... 151 Customized Job Training Program ...... 89 Employment and Job Training Contracting ...... 157 Independence Capital Access Network ...... : ...... 152 1 \ Welfare-to-Work Competitive Grants ...... 239 Workers' Compensation Helpline ...... i ...... 155 1 Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Title I Adult. Youth and Dislocated Worker Programs ...... 155 34 Centerfor Rural Pennsylvania I I I I FOOD AND NUTRITION Community Food Projects ...... 218 I Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)...... 79 Inspector General Helpline ...... 203 I State Food Purchase Program ...... 83 GENERAL I Center for Rural Pennsylvania Grant Program ...... 45 Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania ...... 46 I Drought Hotline ...... :...... 1. : ...... 133 . Heinz Endowments ...... :...... : ...... i ...... (...... 217 Local Government Capital Loan Program ...... 97 I Local Government Division Grant ...... 73 National Association of Towns and Townships ...... 50 National Center for Small Communities ...... 51 I Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations ...... 179 Pennsylvania State Data Center ...... 201 Tax Forms Ordering Message Service ...... 158 I Taxpayer Service and Information Center ...... 158 Toll-Free Action Line ...... 208 Unclaimed Property Hotline ...... 169 I Utility Consumer Complaints ...... 203 I HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AIDS Factline ...... 143 I Alcohol Education ...... 202 Alzheimer's Hotline ...... 74 Area Agencies on Aging ...... i ...... :...... 74 I Auditor General's Tipline ...... :...... 62 Auto Safety Hotline ...... 241 BuIIetproof Vest Partnership Program (BVP) ...... 236 I Cancer Information Service ...... 51 Charities Registration Line ...... 158 Child Abuse Hotline ...... 156 I Civil Disorders ...... 204 Cocaine Hotline ...... 212 Commission for Women Helpline ...... ;...... 65 I Commonwealth Information Center ...... 181 Community Challenge Grant Program ...... 143 m Community Health Centers ...... 229 Community Resource Institute ...... 46 1 Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 3s CA TEGORY INDEX (comwm) HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Community Service Block Grant Program ...... 88 Consumer Product Safety Helpline ...... 218 Corrections and Law Enforcement Family Support (CLEFS) ...... 237 County Boards of Assistance ...... 157 Crime Laboratory ...... 205 Criminal History Record Improvement Project ...... 63 Development and Coordination of Rural Health Services ...... 230 Directory of Charitable Grantmakers ...... 47 Drug and Alcohol Information ...... 144 Drug Control and System Improvement Program ...... 65 Drug Education and Law Enforcement Program/ Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)...... 66 Drug-Free Workplace ...... 217 Ethics Law Information ...... 204 Federal Surplus Property Transfer Program ...... 238 Headache Information ...... 56 Health Information Line ...... 145 Intermediate Punishment Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program ...... 67 .k Intermediate Punishment Program ...... 67 Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant Program (JAIBG) ...... 68 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program ...... 69 Latino Affairs Helpline ...... 182 Law Enforcement Education Partnership ...... 70 Law Enforcement Property Program ...... 142 Lead Poisoning Hotline ...... 145 Liquor Control Enforcement ...... 206 Mental Health Research Grants ...... 231 Missing and Exploited Children Helpline ...... 245 Municipal Police Drug Task Force Program ...... 202 National Domestic Violence Hotline ...... 215 National Pesticide Telecom Network ...... 62 Organ Donor Helpline ...... 147 PACE Prescription Drug Assistance ...... 213 Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Management Information System (PA-LEMIS) ...... 63 Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health ...... 210 Pittsburgh Foundation ...... 212 Post-Secondary Educational Gratuity Program ...... 191 POW/MIA State Grant Program ...... 191 Project for Community Building - Community Crime Prevention ...... 71 1 Promotion of the Humanities: Public Programs ...... 55 (\. . Public Assistance ...... 176 PUC Service Helpline ...... 203 1 Radon Helpline ...... 136 36 Center for Rural Pennsylvania HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Renal Disease Information ...... 148 I Research and Information Clearinghouse ...... 148 Research-Based Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program ...... 71 Rural Health Research Centers ...... 233 I Rural Telemedicine Grant Program ...... 233 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities: National Programs ...... 225 Sexually Transmitted Disease Helpline ...... 42 Social Security Helpline ...... 249 Special Kids Network Helpline ...... 148 I Statewide Adoption Network ...... 148 : STOP Violence Against Women Program ...... ;...... 72 Teenline ...... 148 I The Commonwealth Fund ...... 216 The Foundation Center ...... 216 Universal Service for Rural Health Care Providers ...... 149 Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons ...... 227 Welfare Assistance Helpline ...... 157 HOUSING Certified Local Government Program (CLG) ...... 193 Closing Cost Assistance Program ...... 195 Farm Labor Housing ...... 254 HOME Investment Partnership ...... 95 I Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) ...... 195 Housing Preservation Grants ...... 254 Individual On-lot Sewage Disposal System Program ...... :...... 200 I Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program ...... 194 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program ...... 196 I Lower Income Homeownership Program ...... 197 Manufactured Home Loan Insurance Program ...... 235 Mortgage Helpline for First-Time Home Buyers ...... 197 I Neighborhood Networks ...... 236 PennHOMES ...... 198 Radon Helpline ...... 136 1 Rural Rental Housing for Families and the Elderly. Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees ...... 259 Self-Help Housing Loans ...... 259 Single-Family Home Ownership Loan Guarantees ...... 260 I Single-Family Home Ownership ...... 261 Single-Family Home Repair Loans and Grants ...... 261 Statewide Homeownership Program ...... 198 I Taxable and Tax-Exempt Bond Financing ...... 199 1 Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 37 1 P PARKS AND RECREATION Disposal of Federal Surplus Real Property ...... 244 Disposal of Federal Surplus Real Property for Parks, Recreation. and Historic Monuments ...... 240 Illegal Dumpsite Hotline ...... 111 Keystone Recreation. Park. and Conservation Fund Grant Program for Public Library Fund ...... 120 National Recreational Trails ...... 114 State Park Reservations and Information ...... 118 TOURISM Heritage Tourism Program ...... 59 Travel and Tourism Office ...... 108 TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE 12th Congressional Region Equipment Center ...... 218 Act 101 - Host Municipality Independent Pennit Review Grants ...... 124 .. Act 101 - Planning Grants ...... 125 Agility Program ...... 158 Americas Treeways ...... i ...... 57 Aviation Development Program ...... 159 Construction Loan Program - Water/Sewer/Stormwater ...... 1...... 200 Cooperative Purchasing Program ...... 140 Customer Call Center ...... 159 Electric and Telecommunication Loans and Guarantees ...... 253 Federal Surplus Property Program ...... 141 Federal Surplus Property Program Helpline ...... ;...... 141 Floodplain Management Program ...... 94 Geologic and Topographic Information Services ...... 110 Highway Turnback Program ...... 160 Individual On-lot Sewage Disposal System Program ...... 200 Infrastructure Development Program ...... :...... 96 Intercity Bus Operating Assistance Program ...... 160 Motorcycle Safety Program ...... 162 National Drinking Water Clearinghouse ...... 52 National Small Flows Clearinghouse ...... 57 New Product Evaluation for Municipal Government ...... 163 Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank ...... 163 Pennsylvania Local Bridge Program ...... 164 Pennsylvania One Call ...... 1...... 203 38 Center for Rural Pennsylvania 1 I .I I TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE Pennsylvania Small Towns Environment Program VENN STEP) ...... 136 I Pennsylvania Twelve-Year Transportation Program ...... 165 Public TelecommunicationsFacilities: Planning and Construction...... :...... 222 Rural Transportation Program ...... 165 I Safe Drinking Water Hotline ...... 243 Section 16 Program ...... 166 Senior Community Center Capital Assistance Grant Program ...... 75 I Software Licensing Program ...... 142 State Block Grant Program (for publicly owned airports) ...... :167 State Surplus Property Program ...... 143 I Storage Tank Helpline ...... 139 Telecommunicationsand Information Infrastructure Assistance Program ...... 223 Transit Research and Demonstration Program ...... 168 I Transportation Enhancements...... 168 Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees ...... 1 ...... 263 I Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants ...... 263 I I I I I I I I I I Pennsylvania Rural Access Guide 39